Batting first Retford were not as fluent as usual and were bowled out for just 176 which is rather meagre by their own high standards. Rob Hackney (3 for 44) and Richard Robinson (3 for 18) both bowled extremely tidily for Wheatley who must have been delighted by their work in the field.

However the target set was much too much for them and Wheatley ended up defending dourly, but successfully to reach 113 for 6 in their 50 overs. Wayne Ellis scored 64 and batted very well for his side. Some might have described it as boring but it is up to the fielding side to bowl the opposition out in such cases, and Wheatley deserve full credit for preventing Retford from doing that.

Arnold whilst not looking convincing keep winning and yesterday they took another twenty point maximum points haul with a narrow two wicket win over Farnsfield who are once again back in serious trouble.

Batting first Farnsfield were bundled out for just 109 with only Kiwi Mark Silcock (34) defying the efforts of Australian Justin Foss (3 for 36) and veteran Rick Peacock (3 for 25).

This paltry total looked to be enough however as Mark Sicock (3 for 53) completed a fine all round match and Chris Collins with a magnificent 5 for 22 both had Arnold struggling at 80 for 8. This proved to be the last of the Farnsfield fight back though as David Evans with a brilliant 34 n.o. steered his side to a desperately hard fought win at 113 for 8.

Cutthorpe rifled through some rather indifferent batting at Cuckney to have the home side struggling on 104 for 8 when the overs ran out. Only Matt Sanger (32 n.o.) held up the Cutthorpe attack although they will be annoyed with themselves for not removing the last two wickets which cost them five vital points. Andy Pierrepont (4 for 50) and Asadullah Butt (3 for 40) both bowled well but the last two wickets were to prove beyond them.

This target proved no obstacle for Cutthorpe and Chris Marples (36) and Andy Thompson (34) took them to an easy seven win whilst Gareth Price (3 for 25) bagged the three wickets to fall.

Thoresby Colliery continued their good run of form with an easy 48 run win over bottom club Glapwell whose situation is becoming increasingly desperate. Batting first Thoresby were dismissed for just 166 and Martin Cheshire’s excellent 55 was to prove more important than one would have thought at the half way stage. Stuart Hall was the pick of the Glapwell attack taking 3 for 36.

In reply Glapwell after doing the hard work were shot out for just 118 with Kiwi Ben Winslade (5 for 37) and Aussie Daniel Nash (3 for 23) both bowling superbly to rip though some indifferent resistance.

Kiveton continued their up and down existence by being annihilated by Mansfield Hosiery Mills who won with nine wickets to spare. Richard Grainger (58) and Adam Burgess (37) both batted well for Kiveton but a collapse then set in and they were bowled out for just 159. Dave Loveridge (4 for 47) and Nolan McKenzie (4 for 57) did the damage for the Hosiery Mills and one had the impression that this target would not be enough.

And so it proved with Clive Graham making 41 n.o., and quite definitely the man of the match Dave Loveridge being also unbeaten on 78 in a quite magnificent all round display which saw Hosiery Mills clock up 161 for 1 to win in style.

Bolsover who looked dead and buried a fortnight ago rattled off their second consecutive straight win when they saw off the challenge of Killamarsh by 35 runs. Bolsover were again well served by Tariq Rashid who made a brilliant 49 out of a Bolsover total of 176 for 9. Dave Barton (4 for 32) and Peter Allen (3 for 43) bowled superbly for KIllamarsh who must have thought that victory was there for the taking at half way.

It was not to be however as only Australian Andrew Hagnhofer (31) showed anything like his best form. That man Tariq Rashid completed a brilliant all round show taking 3 for 40, but the real star with the ball was Steve Wooley who bagged 5 for 53 in a most impressive stint to see Killamarsh bowled out for just 141 as Bolsover strode to victory.

In Division 2 on a day of surprises leaders Edwinstowe came unstuck at the hands of inconsistent Biwater Clay Cross. Two magnificent players Michael Bradley and Ian Sims who don’t score anywhere near as many runs as their God given talent should allow them to, once again batted splendidly to score 38 and 31 respectively. Both of them should have gone on to score many more but both of them as always got out whilst looking well set.

Biwater were finally bowled out for just 146, with Australian Garth Brown claiming 3 for 21 but this proved to be 14 runs too good for Edwinstowe who were all back inside for just 132. Only Garth Brown with 42 to complete a brilliant personal all round showing, offered any resistance as Ian Bettney bowled superbly to take 7 for 43 and win the match for Biwater.

Second placed Worksop moved to within eight points of Edwinstowe after registering an incredible one run win over N.S.K. at Central Avenue. Batting first Worksop were thankful to Jamil Hassan who made a solid 74 and Glen Pym with an elegant 39 as they reached 159 for 7. Ian Sellars bowled superbly for N.S.K. to take 4 for 41 and set up his side for a sixth consecutive positive result after a sluggish start to the season.

It so nearly happened as Nigel Murray (38) and Peter Lambert (34) took them to the brink of victory before they snatched an incredible defeat. With one over remaining N.S.K. needed four runs to win with three wickets remaining and incredibly lost all three whilst scoring two runs to give Worksop a win they could only have dreamed about as they were bowled out for 158! Veteran Steve Ambrose took 4 for 35 as Worksop snatched a most unlikely twenty points.

Marshalls completely swamped Whitwell about six weeks ago but the return fixture was so different with both teams claiming eleven points each from a 136 all out tie. Batting first Whitwell were thankful to Duncan Forrest (40) and Alan Draycott (44) as they slumped alarmingly to some sensational bowling from Mark Davies who claimed 7 for 25.

Batting second Marshalls were quickly in trouble but Chris Hearn (31) and Mark Davies (31) who must have been gutted not to have finished on the winning side, pulled them right back into contention. Nathan Morris (4 for 63) and Ian Dennis (4 for 42) bowled superbly as the game reached a fantastic conclusion which was probably as right as any result could have been because neither side deserved to lose this epic encounter.

Spare a thought for Ashover’s Andy Walker who has been in prime form of late. He went even better this week scoring a fantastic unbeaten 127 and with great support from Russell Cooke (46) Ashover posted a good looking total of 218 for 2 against a wilting Eckington attack.

It wasn’t enough however as Andy Davies (68), Terrence Pearson (42) and Mark Bridgman (34) all batted brilliantly as Eckington reached 222 for 6 off the very last ball with Ian Broom putting in a stirring effort for Ashover to take 4 for 83 as Eckington registered a superb four wicket win.

Blyth must have cursed their catch dropping fielders as they stay glued to the bottom after another defeat at Pilsley. On a wicket which was far from easy Blyth stuck to their task well and notched up 147 for 8 when the 46 overs ran out. Skipper Pete Jones top scored with 32 whilst Saed Bin Nasir and Ian Worthy grabbed a brace of wickets each. Three others were run out rather stupidly and did Blyth no favours whatsoever, but the Pilsley fielding was excellent in all three cases.

At 52 for 3, Pilsley could ill afford to lose the precious wicket of Saed Bin Nasir and when he was dropped after the fielder had juggled it three times the contest was virtually over. Bin Nasir went on to make a fabulous unbeaten 109, but Blyth must have been wondering what might have been. John Smith bowled superbly for Blyth taking 1 for 24 in an incredibly consistent spell of 17.1 overs and deserved better and needless to say the important dropped catch was off his bowling.

Everton made a slight recovery last week to move off the bottom of the table, but they were back swimming in mediocrity this week. Opponents Anston made an impressive 245 for 9 with Danny Scrivens (43), Akilesh Rana (61) and Andy Ruczenczyn (53) all making major contributions. Neil Waghorne (3 for 32) and John Waghorne (3 for 44) both bowled well for Everton.

The target was never remotely threatened as Everton capitulated to 82 all out with the ultra accuracy of Ian Barley claiming 3 for 19 from a terrific spell of bowling.