It was all things considered the right result with no team deserving to lose a match that simply had everything. Batting first Retford were once again indebted to the sensational skills of Pascal Broadley who is certainly having one hell of a season. Broadley made a superb 80 and with Nigel Hall batting excellently also to make 46, Retford accumulated a daunting total when their 50 over stint at the wicket ran out.

Not that Hosiery Mills were about to let their challenge lie down and wilt. Right from the start they went for the target and almost got there registering 219 for 8 when the overs ran out. The brilliant West Indian Nolan McKenzie blasted a superb 88 and he was well supported by skipper Mark Langford with 34.

Steve Shepherd bowled magnificently for Retford taking 4 for 48 on a day when bowling was a real chore. He can be proud of his performance as can the Hosiery Mills groundsman who after an horrendous season in 2002 has certainly got conditions right and has produced some stunning tracks this campaign.

After last week’s setback against Kiveton Park it was woe betide the next team who came up against champions Cutthorpe and that dubious pleasure was afforded to Arnold who although standing second in the league were thoroughly and extensively trounced by six wickets.

Batting first Arnold simply couldn’t cope with Asadullah Butt (6 for 33) and Andy Knowles (3 for 22) as they were skittled out for just 124. This target didn’t produce a single moment of trepidation to Cutthorpe who won in a canter with Chris Marples (38) and the elegant Andy Thompson (68 n.o.) leading the charge.

Although Arnold stood second in the table this really did look like men against boys and Cutthorpe certainly showed that anybody who thinks they are wavering slightly are miles off the pace. They will still be there right to the wire, nothing is more certain than that!

Thoresby Colliery put a sudden end to the charge up the table of Cuckney by thrashing them out of sight by seven wickets. Cuckney were never in it from the moment they took guard and Ben Winslade (4 for 29) and Daniel Nash (3 for 20) had them all back inside for a meagre 114 runs.

This proved no contest to the Thoresby lads and Daniel Nash completed a fine all round showing with an unbeaten 52 as his side romped home in style.

Killamarsh kept up their impressive mid table form by easily defeating Bolsover by 35 runs. Batting first Killamarsh made 168 for 9 which didn’t reflect what they should have done after a mighty impressive start. Rob Carlisle (38) and Sam Malpass (47) got Killamash away to a positive start but good bowling by Tariq Rashid (3 for 58) and skipper Charlie Walker (3 for 39) hauled them back as Bolsover did well to stay in the game.

Bolsover batted well in spurts and if Tariq Rashid (35) and the belligerent stroke play of Chris Cowley who made a cavalier style 63 had been supported to any degree they might well have engineered an unlikely win. However Peter Allen proved virtually unplayable taking 8 for 35 as Bolsover were dismissed for just 133.

Farnsfield grabbed a much needed win over North Wheatley which lifts them away from the wrong end of the table. Only Gareth Campion (42) showed much application as Wheatley collapsed again to 145 all out with Bryan Gould taking an incredible 7 for 66 to rout some indifferent batting.

Farnsfield raced to victory with Paul Delaney making 54 and they had seven wickets to spare at the end. This was a much needed win and Farnsfield will be all the better now they have returned to winning ways.

Glapwell must have thought they had their match won at the halfway stage against Kiveton Park who they dismissed for just 84 runs. If ever an innings was precious it was Kiveton’s Dean Walker’s 33 which was worth at least 100 on any other day as Matthew Hall went through the rest of the batting to take 5 for 23.

Incredibly enough this target was 18 runs too good as Glapwell stood there as Jamie Radford simply went through them taking 8 for 40 in a magical spell of pace bowling. Glapwell will look back later in the season and feel sure they should have won this match and took maximum points. As it is they are deeper in the mire and face a long struggle now in their quest for survival.

In Division 2, leaders Edwinstowe were under pressure at Ashover for the first 30 overs but showed their mettle to get themselves back in the match and eventually come out winners. Batting first Ashover put on 127 for the first wicket with Andy Walker who made a belligerent 89 and a more sedate John Hunter (35) providing the ideal foil for each other.

When Walker went courtesy of a fabulous catch by Edwinstowe skipper Nigel Jackson, the game changed dramatically and Ashover were limited to what was eventually a disappointing 186 for 6 when the overs ran out. This was in no small way due to Ian Smith who moved the ball prodigiously taking 4 for 40 in an inspired spell.

Another fine opening partnership of 96 by Australian Garth Brown and Dave Hallam got Edwinstowe away to the perfect start but unlike Ashover they were able to gather momentum after this stand was broken.

Brown produced a series of searing drives on his was to making 92 and with Ian Smith in devastating form to supplement his superb work with the ball (60 n.o. from just 36 deliveries faced) Edwinstowe strolled home with seven wickets standing and with nine overs still remaining.

Second placed Marshalls gained a winning draw after a titanic struggle with Eckington. Batting first Marshalls clocked up 247 for 7 with the two Australians Tim Down and Paul Van den Heuvel both making a huge impact.

Down made a magnificent 137 and Van den Heuvel (30) whilst Eckington skipper Simon Emson bowled superbly to take (3 for 91) and Wayne Dye did likewise to take 3 for 77. Eckington responded well to the challenge making 180 for 6 with Mark Bridgman scoring an excellent 67 and Tom Dawson (34) The thorn in their side however was the ultra accurate Mark Davies who bowled his usual economical style to take 4 for 71.

Worksop kept up the pressure in third place and this section even at this stage of the season looks like being one of the most competitive in the entire structure of the league and will probably go right down to the wire. Batting first Worksop reached a massive 221 for 4 against a toiling Biwater Clay Cross attack with Jamil Hassan (46), Steve Walker (37), Glen Pym (52) and Tim Ward (51) all batting well.

Clay Cross then put up quite a battle and reached 183 before being bowled out. Youngster Ian Knowles batted superbly to make 54, and skipper Mark Leatherday a very useful 38. Worksop were thankful to Simon Robson who took 5 for 53 and the wiles of Paul Burton who took 3 for 68.

Promoted Pilsley have now picked up the pace after a slow start and gained a maximum points haul over bottom club Everton who are now in serious trouble. Batting first Everton made only 85 runs and had it not been for extras totalling 24 one wonders what a paltry score it would have been. Dave Schofield (4 for 26) and Saed Bin Nasir (4 for 17) completely wrecked the batting and left Pilsley with an easy route to victory.

This was taken with Bin Nasir making 31 and Mark Crane (27 n.o.) as Pilsley won by six wickets. Andy Snell bowled his heart out for Everton to take all four wickets at a cost of 29 runs but his batsmen had given him little chance of pulling off a minor miracle by setting such an inadequate target.

N.S.K. who have risen from the depths to fourth collected 17 points from a winning draw against Whitwell. Peter Lambert made a superb 47 and South African Jurgen Van den Merwe added a good supporting 37 as N.S.K. totalled 182 for 7 when the overs ran out.

This proved easily enough as Whitwell collapsed to 126 for 8 with skipper Ian Dennis (31) preventing almost certain defeat. Gary Lambert (5 for 43) and Peter Lambert (3 for 37) did the damage as N.S.K. kept up their consistent form.

Anston are another side in good form and although they ran things fine they managed to claim a winning draw against Blyth who look to be a better side than their lowly position would suggest. Batting first Anston were well served once again by that prolific run scoring machine Akilesh Rana who contributed 30 with Dean Brearley (51) and John Lyne (41 n.o.) adding good support as Anston totalled 198 for 6.

Blyth made a terrific dart at this target and whilst Pete Jones was at the crease they looked to be favourites. When Jones departed for an excellent 57, Anston got on top and with Ian Barley (3 for 55) and Graham Tweed (4 for 72) bowling superbly Blyth closed on 183 for 7. Anston added another 17 points to their growing total and are likely to be a danger to anyone when they are on top of their form.