Cricket: Sandon pick up Premier title after rivals' no-show
SANDON were crowned Premier Division champions in farcical circumstances after scheduled opponents Oldfields Cheadle conceded the fixture.
Andy Wootton's side were odds-on to clinch the crown before they received maximum points when their rivals couldn't field a side.
Sandon's march to the championship had become a bit of an anti-climax with Oldfields' concession being the title-winners' second in three games after Keele Park also failed to fulfil their fixture.
Sandon, though, are ineligible for promotion to Division Three of the North Staffs and South Cheshire League, partly because they have no second team or youth set-up.
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However, second-placed Leek Moorlands could soon be making the step up.
The Moorlanders are awaiting a ground inspection by league officials having already signalled their intent to make the move up the pyramid.
"We've applied to the North Staffs and South Cheshire League, who have acknowledged that fact," said Leek captain Richard Ogden.
"We're hoping to set up a ground inspection, although we passed one a couple of years ago and the venue has improved since then, so fingers crossed.
"We'd then have to resign from the Stone League as well, but it has always been our aim to make the move if we were eligible."
Leek are due to play their last top-flight game on Saturday when they make the trip to the champions.
Onneley and Maer also picked up maximum points on Saturday after their opponents, Little Stoke, couldn't raise a side for their clash.
There was some meaningful action, though, in the encounter between Newcastle and Hartshill and Keele Park.
And it was visitors Keele Park who were left celebrating at the end after completing a 116-run victory.
Nagavara Arekatla (50) and Michael Knowles (32) were the mainstays of Keele Park's 179 all out. Alexis Smith captured 4-43.
Newcastle and Hartshill were quickly swept away for just 63, as Daniel Hall's 4-11 exposed their batting line-up.
MUVVA Srinivasa Rao hit a century to pave the way for Keele Park's 143-run demolition of Oakamoor in Division One.
Rao struck 16 fours and three sixes in his unbeaten 124 as Park amassed 203-5 declared.
New-ball pair Stephen Cooke (4-10) and Paul Cheadle (3-15) then blitzed Oakamoor for 60.
Onneley and Maer endured an afternoon to forget with the bat as they slumped to a five-wicket defeat by Leigh.
John Cotton's 5-8 instigated Onneley and Maer's downfall to 45 all out, in which Adrian Baddeley (10) was the only player to reach double figures.
Baddeley claimed three wickets after tea, but David Nash's unbeaten 35 saw Leigh to victory.
Aston enjoyed a comfortable afternoon as they saw off the challenge of Leek Moorlands by 94 runs.
Skipper Kevin Langdown's 45 was the principal contribution to Aston's 160 all out, despite the best efforts of David Alcock (4-29) and Sam Slater (3-27).
The Moorlanders then suffered a torrid time in the run chase after being skittled for a meagre 66.
Oliver Stark led the way with 5-27 as only two batsmen managed to post double figures.
Comments
by mogbat
Thursday, September 13 2012, 9:28PM
“With all due respect to moorlands Sandon may try to make the promotion criteria during the closed season.”
by mogbat
Thursday, September 13 2012, 9:25PM
“With all respect to Moorlands, Sandon may try to make the promotion criteria during the closed season..”