On Bank Holiday Monday’s round of matches Glapwell absolutely destroyed a weakened Bolsover side by eight wickets with a degree of assurance that must give them hope for the final run in. After Matt Hall had dismissed the dangerous Tariq Rashid early on, Bolsover consolidated and Steve Wooley spanked some sparkling drives in an aggressive 54 runs before carelessly getting himself run out.

From this moment Bolsover simply collapsed and were dismissed for just 146 with only Matt Griffith (42) preventing a complete rout. Dean Graney (4 for 41) and Gary Saxby (4 for 28) bowled superbly and Bolsover found it impossible to cope with this dual threat.

The required runs posed very little threat and after Stuart Hall and Rob Davison had got Glapwell away to a good start, Kiwi Andy Smith (33 n.o.) and Matt Hall in particular with a brilliant unbeaten 55 completed the job in style with 31 overs to spare.

North Wheatley pulled off an even bigger shock when they easily saw off the challenge of high flying Thoresby Colliery by six wickets. Batting first Thoresby were bowled out for an unflattering 154 with only Daniel Nash (39) providing any form of stability. Richard Robinson did the most of the damage taking 6 for 29 in a magical spell which saw Thoresby collapse in spectacular fashion.

Wheatley have however collapsed themselves from this sort of position several times this season so there must have been a cause for trepidation, but this was not to be the case today as they strode confidently to victory. Dave Waller (41), Wayne Harrison (45) and Richard Robinson who was undoubtedly the star of the match scored a brilliant unbeaten 45 saw them past the winning post. From looking down and out Wheatley now have a chance of saving themselves and their confidence must be sky high after a 40 point weekend.

Farnsfield virtually banished any relegation blues with a great win over Cutthorpe by 92 runs. Batting first Farnsfield showed the consistency in their batting that they have lacked for much of the season as they made 234 for 8 with Andy Edwards (47), Phil Creswell (40) and Keith Miller (41) all making sizable contributions. Asadullah Butt as usual bowled quite superbly to take 5 for 79 and included a Hat-Trick for good measure.

For once the Cutthorpe batting failed and that was mainly due to a brilliant spell of quality bowling by Craig Collins who took 8 for 55 as they were dismissed for just 142. Only Andy Thompson (33) and Stuart Barlow (37 n.o.) prevented an even worse defeat as the buoyant Farnsfield side tightened the screw in good style.

Mansfield Hosiery Mills recovered well after their losing Tomlin Trophy semi final with a winning draw against Kiveton Park. Batting first Hosiery Mills made a useful looking 194 for 9 in their 50 overs with Jonathan Smaill (77) and Nolan McKenzie (33) leading from the front. Ian Thompson was the best of the Kiveton attack taking 3 for 57 in a good spell of slow bowling.

Kiveton never looked like eclipsing this total and were holding on as the overs ran out on 168 for 9 with Richard Spurr batting excellently as he made an unbeaten 56. Sri Lankan Asela Jayasinghe with 4 for 55 was the best of the Hosiery Mills attack in a side who made a good recovery from the major disappointment they had suffered the previous day.

In Division 2 Worksop continued their march on the title with a winning draw over neighbours Whitwell at the Rookery. Batting first Worksop clocked up an impressive 226 for 3 with Steve Walker making a fine 57, Glen Pym a cultured 73 plus a superb 63 n.o. which was registered by Tim Ward.

Whitwell replied with 141 for 8 with Carl Curran (32) and Nathan Morris (35) putting up some stern resistance to thwart the Worksop attack in which Paul Burton (3 for 33) was the pick.

Edwinstowe took a vital 16 points from a winning draw over relegation threatened Blyth who had they shown a little more ambition might well have pulled off a famous victory. Batting first Edwinstowe managed 197 for 9 with Paul Benson (38) and a fine 69 from Ian Smith being the highlights. Mark Ambrose with 3 for 26 was the best of the Blyth attack.

In reply Blyth decided to play safe and reached 160 for 5 at stumps. Geoff Chessman (44) continued his excellent form and Peter Andrews (38 n.o.) saw them through to the end, but with a little more pressure applied they might well have dismissed virtually all their relegation fears.

As it turned out Ashover who are battling with them at the foot of the table virtually blew away any hopes they might have had of saving themselves with a 35 run defeat against bottom club Everton.

Actually Ashover had done rather well at the half way stage as they reduced Everton to an extremely modest 124 for 7 which would have been even worse had it not been for John Shaw who made a dour but very effective unbeaten 62. Roger Bolstridge (3 for 28) and Charlie Gwillim (3 for 10) bowled superbly for Ashover and at this stage the match looked to be theirs for the taking.

It was not to be however as Shaw decided what he could do with the bat, he could do equally well with the ball. taking 5 for 37, and in association with Bob Mimms (4 for 45) they had Ashover all back inside for just 89 in a bitterly disappointing day for the home side who are now in desperate trouble.

Marshalls bagged a further 20 point maximum and cling hold to the possibility that they might still grab one of the promotion places. Batting first Pilsley performed disappointingly and only Mark Limb (37) showed any application as Liam Andrews (3 for 13) conspired to bowl them out for just 138.

This target proved hopelessly inadequate as Australian Tim Down (77 n.o.) and Kevin Housham (43) battered Marshalls to an easy eight wicket win. It is still unlikely that they will catch the top two but they must cling to the dream and keep winning and hoping!

Anston and N.S.K. managed a proverbial run feast at Ryton Road with the home side making 231 for 4 and losing by eight wickets! John Taylor (37), Greg Pearson (39 n.o.) John Lyne (54) and Mark Parkinson (38 n.o.) all batted extremely capably for Anston but it was one of those days as N.S.K. never looked like anything other than winners and so it proved.

John Smith (56), and Peter Litchfield (40 n.o.) both batted superbly but the real hero was Ian Sellars who blazed a magnificent unbeaten 118 as the Newark side won with consummate ease in an enthralling contest.

The Biwater Clay Cross skipper Martin Leatherday is doing his side proud in recent matches but is lacking support from his colleagues with the bat. Once again Leatherday scored a fine 52 at Eckington out of a disappointing 46 over total of 146 for 8. Skipper Simon Emson (4 for 43) was the best of the Eckington attack and they must have been rather pleased with their work in the field.

And so it turned out as Terrence Pearson made a belligerent unbeaten 69 as Eckington coasted to a comfortable six wicket win and now move above Biwater in the table.