It could have been so different however especially at North Wheatley were the home side who started the day at the bottom of the table looked an absolute racing certainty to inflict defeat upon third placed Cutthorpe in what would have been the shock of the season. Batting first Cutthorpe were dismissed for just 129 with South African Tiene Marie (3 for 70) and Rob Hackney (3 for 30) both bowling superbly.

This target looked easily attainable as Wayne Harrison batted with supreme confidence to make 44 and North Wheatley had reached 93 for 2 when the heavens opened. As usually happens when a side are struggling at the foot of the table nothing seems to go for them, and Wheatley will be cursing their luck that a morale boosting victory over one of the most powerful sides in the league was taken away from them by the weather.

Mansfield Hosiery Mills and table topping Retford were in a very interesting position when their match was halted with the latter probably just holding the advantage. Hosiery Mills made a modest 157 for 9 in their 50 over stint at the wicket with Steve Randall taking 3 for 32 in a good spell. Retford were then 72 for 3 when the weather intervened and prevented any more play.

One team who did look on for a hiding to nothing when rain stopped play was Farnsfield who are in freefall at the moment. Batting first Killamarsh made a useful looking 196 for 4 with Australian Andrew Hagnhofer who is in prime form at the moment contributing an unbeaten 72 and Julian Carlisle a superb 63 n.o.

This target looked way beyond Farnsfield’s capabilities and as play was called to a halt they were in serious trouble at 52 for 4 and staring defeat in the face. Killamarsh are another side who will feel terribly hard done by on this eventful day and if they need points at the end of the season they will look back on this day and think to themselves, ‘If only’.

Kiveton Park looked to be holding all the aces in their match against second placed Arnold when the rain intervened. Batting first Kiveton made 183 for 5 with Richard Grainger making 62 and Australian Matthew Williams 49 n.o.

In reply Arnold had reached 71 for 3 when play was abandoned. Don Leiper had made a solid 37 for them but Kiveton seemed to have a slight advantage at the closure.

Cuckney who have been in great form lately made a good 236 for 6 in their fifty overs with Aron Thomas (34), Maz Nazar (59) and Bavish Patel (40) all making sizable contributions. Skipper Charlie Walker bowled quite superbly for Bolsover taking 4 for 77 in a great spell.

Bolsover made a good start to their effort and were 69 for 2 when the match was abandoned. Cuckney certainly held the advantage at the close but this game needed only one good innings to turn things around at the break.

We were far more fortunate in Division 2 with every match played to a finish unbelievably! Table topping Edwinstowe made their position even more secure with an easy seven wicket win over Everton at Forest Corner.

Batting first Everton were dismissed for just 145 with John Mimms scoring an excellent 67 and John Waghorne (49). When one considers that these two made 117 between them the others contribution to the cause was measly to say the least. Ally Rhodes (5 for 25) and Ian Smith (4 for 23) bowled superbly for a side who seem to have the title of champions written all over them.

This target proved no contest for Edwinstowe who raced to 151 for 3 and victory with consummate ease. Australian Garth Brown (85) and Paul Benson (34) both made it look ridiculously easy as Edwinstowe marched to another impressive win.

Worksop slipped up badly and could only scrape a losing draw for their efforts at Pilsley. Batting first the home side made 214 for 8 with another very special innings coming from Pakistani star Said Bin Nasir who made an incredible 141. Paul Burton (3 for 73) and Tim Ward (3 for 65) were the best of a Worksop attack which took quite a pounding.

In reply Worksop were struggling at 171 for 8 at the close with only Jamil Hassan (47) and Glen Pym (37) making any impact as Michael Thompson bowled brilliantly to take 6 for 59 as Pilsley were just thwarted from a famous victory.

Marshalls are getting further and further divorced from the top two and slumped to a three wicket reversal against N.S.K. at Gainsborough. Batting first Marshalls were tied down to such an extent that they could only muster a rather miserable 107 for 8 when the overs ran out.

James Deacon (41) batted splendidly but nobody else could find an answer to Pete Burrell who was almost unplayable as he took 6 for 55. N.S.K. did struggle but finally arrived at 108 for 7 with Kevin Housham taking 3 for 26 in a vain attempt to wrest back the damage done earlier in the day.

A breathtaking match at The Rookery saw Biwater Clay Cross beat the home side Whitwell in a desperate finish by two wickets. Batting first Whitwell were indebted to their South African import Michael Alexander who made a brisk 75 and Alan Draycott who batted soundly and blossomed near the end to remain unbeaten on 48 out of a final total of 191 for 7. Gareth Pratt bowled a typically accurate spell and was rewarded for his efforts with 3 for 46.

Biwater who have been in excellent form of late made a good start and an excellent second wicket stand by Michael Bradley who batted superbly for his 79 and youngster Ian Knowles (39) put them right in the box seat.

When Bradley was out however panic stations set in and a glut of wickets fell before the limping Christian Pratt with the aid of a runner steered his side home at 193 for 8 in a marvellous match which was a credit to both sides. Ian Dennis (3 for 38) and Nathan Morris (3 for 71) bowled supremely well for a Whitwell side who competed well, and it was a pity that someone had to lose such a fine game.

In an encore from last week Anston were once again indebted to the magnificent Andy Ruczenczyn who blasted his way to another lightning century for the second consecutive week from just 64 balls faced.

Opponents Blyth must have wondered what had hit them as they were blasted for 232 for 9 in their 46 overs in which Ruczenczyn made 103 which included 11 sixes and 4 fours and great support came from Akilesh Rana (37), Danny Scrivens (30) and Andrew Lyne (34). Blyth stuck to their task well considering the carnage created and John Smith bowled his usual excellent spell to take 4 for 66.

Not that Blyth gave this target up easily and they are now showing the type of form which could still pull them out of trouble at the bottom end of the table. Martin Court (38), Geoff Chessman (42) and Steve Howe (35 n.o.) all batted well as Blyth fell just short at 186 for 6. This was mainly due to a superb spell of bowling by Ian Cannings who wheeled away unchanged for 23 overs to take 4 for 62.

The final match in this section saw Eckington gain a winning draw over lowly Ashover who could yet get sucked into the relegation mire if their form fails to improve. Mark Smith (56) and Andy Davies (52) top scored for Eckington who made a 46 over total of 184 for 9. David Bush (4 for 43) and Andy Walker (4 for 43) both bowled well for an under strength Ashover attack and their figures showed what a good job they had done.

In reply Ashover were thankful to skipper Tim Ducksbury who made a useful looking 53 out of a total of 106 for7. Ian Thompson (3 for 14) was the best of the Eckington bowlers in a match which they could easily have won with a little more penetration.