Batting first Retford didn’t have things all their own way with only skipper Steve Musgrove of their much vaunted top order showing anything like true form with a superb 44. After a middle order collapse, Clive Savage added a most valuable 33 runs and Retford were finally bowled out for 174 with Justin Foss (4 for 35) and Scott Leivers (3 for 29) bowling extremely well for Arnold.

This target proved too many right from the very start however and only wicket-keeper Bill Trewartha with 33 made any headway against a tight and varied Retford attack in which Mike Moseley (3 for 29) and Paul Singleton (3 for 35) were outstanding. At no time did Arnold ever threaten Retford’s supremacy and their final score of 129 all out saw the leaders home by 45 runs in a canter and the Division 1 title move ever closer to Cricket Field Lane once again.

Cutthorpe must have good reason to hate Killamarsh who really do have the Indian sign on them. Once again it happened as Cutthorpe for the second consecutive week suffered a major batting collapse and were bowled out for just 101 with only Nigel Kingham (32) showing any sort of application whatsoever. Rodney Cook put in a magnificent bowling stint for Killamarsh and gained his reward with 5 for 22.

Needing to get amongst the batting to defend this meagre total Cutthorpe grounded some early catches which meant that Rob Carlisle (30) and Sam Malpass (47) almost saw Killamarsh home without losing a wicket. Despite a minor blip in middle order Killamarsh made it past the winning post with a comfortable four wickets to spare with Asadullah Butt (4 for 34) putting in an excellent but vain bid to turn things round as the score moved along to 102 for 6.

Cuckney overcame Thoresby Colliery in a thriller at Langwith Road by two wickets. Batting first Thoresby made a useful looking 193 for 9 with Kiwi Ben Winslade (49) and Nigel Burkitt (34) top scoring for them despite some good line and length bowling by the Cuckney attack.

The target was reached but not without a struggle and eight wickets were down before Cuckney emerged victorious. Aron Thomas who is in excellent form at the moment made another superb 82 and received great support from Maz Nazar and Andrew Jackman who made 35 each with the latter remaining unbeaten. David Evans bowled splendidly for Thoresby to take 3 for 62, but could have done with a few more runs to defend as he toiled away manfully but couldn’t prevent Cuckney taking the bulk of the points.

Bolsover crept ever nearer to safety in an excellent game of cricket which resulted in them taking a maximum points haul against Kiveton Park. Batting first Bolsover were indebted to the Grant’s with Eddie making 31 and Jon (45) out of a total of 199 for 9. Jamie Radford was the best of the Kiveton bowlers and his reward for a great effort was 4 for 67.

This target should have been reachable on the league’s best wicket but for once the home side failed in their quest for victory. Only the supremely talented left hander Adam Burgess shone through this time with a brilliant 56 as left arm quickie Chris Pemberton bowled superbly well to take 3 for 49 as Kiveton were bowled out for 191 to give Bolsover a precious 8 run victory.

A sensational unbeaten knock of 122 by Kiwi Jonathan Smaill and a swashbuckling 80 from Nolan McKenzie saw Mansfield Hosiery Mills reach a mammoth 256 for 5 against Farnsfield at Huthwaite Road. Youngster Mark Hallam (3 for 59) was the best of a Farnsfield attack which took quite a pounding.

The wicket was to have the final say in this one and Farnsfield without much trouble reached 196 for 6 with skipper Andy Edwards making a brilliant unbeaten 64, and Paul Delaney (49) respectively. Hosiery Mills attack carried little threat and only Matthew New (2 for 45) and Asela Jayasinghe (2 for 48) troubled a Farnsfield side who held on comfortably.

In the basement battle Glapwell came out easily on top as North Wheatley once again staged one of their major batting collapses. Batting first Glapwell reached a highly respectable 180 for 8 with Dean Graney making a good 63 and Matthew Hall (51). Wheatley skipper Jamie Bovill was the pick of the home side attack taking 4 for 44 in a good stint.

This target however proved far too many as Wheatley were dismissed for just 94 in a sorry exhibition of batting. Matthew Hall continued his good work taking 5 for 23 and he has seen his side close to within six points of Farnsfield who must now be looking over their shoulder anxiously.

Into Division 2 and runaway leaders Edwinstowe were dealt quite a shock after having the game against Whitwell practically sewn up. Whitwell came back strongly to win by just one wicket and to cast momentary doubts on who will make the journey through to Division 1 at the end of the season.

Batting first Edwinstowe had one of those off days that any promotion chasing team can do without and were limited to just 151 for 7 in their 46 overs with the splendid Dave Hallam making a well worked 37 and skipper Nigel Jackson 40. Workhorse Nathan Morris bowled superbly for Whitwell to take 3 for 35 in a long and productive spell.

Whitwell looked down and out as they collapsed badly early on and a real captain’s innings by Ian Dennis who made a brilliant 38 turned the game in their favour when they looked to have no chance. They finally arrived at destination on 155 for 9 but spare a thought for John Garnham who bowled magnificently but all in vain as he took 6 for 24 in an inspired spell.

Worksop closed the gap between then and Edwinstowe to just fourteen points in a drawn fixture with Eckington at Staveley Lane. On a real ‘Shirt-front’ wicket, Worksop ran up an impressive 258 for 5 with Glen Pym making a magnificent 85 and Jamil Hassan (55) but the bowlers had to work really hard for every wicket they obtained.

Nothing altered much when Eckington replied although they couldn’t sustain the pace needed for victory and were 183 for 4 when the overs ran out. Terrence Pearson made a good 68 and Mark Smith battled well for his 40 but the pitch was the real winner, it was an absolute ‘belter’!

Marshalls closed up with a return to form with a nine wicket rout over Everton who look to have little hope now of avoiding relegation. On this occasion they batted well however reaching 190 for 7 with John Waghorne (59), Sas Karr (34) and Neil Waghorne (34) all performing well. Kevin Housham (3 for 51) was the pick of a hard worked Marshalls attack.

This score didn’t pose any threat to Marshalls though and they returned to form with a bang winning by nine wickets with ridiculous ease. Paul Van den Heuvel contributed a brilliant unbeaten 102 and Kevin Housham added to his good work with the ball with a well constructed 65 n.o. and victory was never in doubt from the moment they arrived at the wicket.

Blyth who always looked better than their position in the league suggested scored a brilliant 87 run success over the very much in form Biwater Clay Cross and move out of the bottom two for the first time in quite a while. Batting first Blyth survived an horrific start from 7 for 2 as Geoff Chessman (78) and Pete Jones (75) put on 167 for the third wicket and take the score up to 212 for 5 when the 46 overs were concluded.

Clay Cross for once never looked like reaching this target and capitulated to just 125 all out with only the elegant Ian Sims (39) making any impression on the Blyth attack. Veteran Steve Howe (3 for 14) did most of the damage for the home side but they must keep this form going as it would seem the other relegation spot is between themselves and Ashover and who will have tears in their eyes at the end is anyone’s guess!

One side who might get sucked into the relegation process is Pilsley but they should manage O.K if the can pull out another couple of positive results between now and the end of the season. They sank to losing draw against N.S.K. at Newark who posted a mighty 192 for 2 in their 46 overs with South African Jurgen Van der Merve (61), Peter Lambert (40) and Gary Lambert (72 n.o.) leading the charge.

In reply Pilsley closed on 157 for 7 with Saed Bin Nasir (59) and Peter Pollard (48 n.o.) being the men in form. At no time however did they threaten the N.S.K. target and their two matches with Ashover which are left are now of paramount importance.