2005 semi-finalists all through to Group Finals

There were a couple of shocks in the Group Semi-Final stage of this season’s Cockspur Cup with Waltham and High Wycombe falling by the wayside at a much earlier stage than last season.

Horsham, Barnt Green, Caythorpe and Havant, last year’s semi-finalists have all progressed to the Group Final stage this year along with the perennially prominent Teddington side. The 32 teams left in the competition will play the next round on Sunday July 2.

Cockspur Cup 2006 - Group Finals (26 KB)

In Group 3, York travelled to meet a much weakened Cleethorpes side and coasted to victory by 205 runs. York posted a commanding total of 335 for seven with Nick Kay and Duncan Snell leading the way. In reply Cleethorpes struggled to cope with the bowling of Dan Broadbent and his colleagues in the York attack. York will meet the winners of the tie between Scholes (Cleckheaton) and Doncaster Town.

Moving on to the three north west groups, Lancaster hosted Fleetwood in Group 4 in a rain-affected match with Lancaster scoring 134 for six and Fleetwood then ran out winners by seven wickets. The winners of the tie between Egerton and Lytham will host Fleetwood in the next round.

Bowdon won on run rate in a rain-ravaged Group 5 semi-final at Maghull. In a match originally reduced to 32 overs each, Maghull amassed 234 for two (Greg Gillespie 107, Paddy McKeown 98). More rain cut Bowdon’s target to 145 off 20 overs (7.5 per over) and they made it at 145 for four, with three balls to spare, winning by six wickets. Skipper Anthony Crozier scored 64 and Gary Yates 48. Bowdon now visit Bootle or Northern in the group final.

Hyde lost at home to Huyton the same day in a Group 6 semi-final reduced to 40 overs each. Huyton totalled 207 (Ritchie Bann 86, Tom Young 2-28) and Hyde fell 47 runs short at 160 after being 11-3, Rudra Singh 78, Rob Brierley 33. Huyton’s final is against Astley & Tyldesley or Bamford Fieldhouse.

In the two midlands groups there were some eye-catching performances. Moseley won the toss at Walsall and felt happier chasing down a total despite the collapse in the previous round that produced a nail-biting finish chasing a small total. Walsall posted a creditable 184 in their 45 overs. Moseley set off in reply with Omar Masood leading the way; unfortunately only Simon Chase stayed with him for any length of time and when Walsall had reduced their visitors to 133 for six a very interesting end to the match was in prospect.

Abid Din with 20 not out then gave Omar the support that he needed as his 91 not out guided Moseley to a four-wicket victory with an over to spare. In the Group Final Moseley will travel to Barnt Green, who enjoyed an easy win against Whitchurch who play three divisions below them in the Birmingham League. Gavin Shepherd (134) and Richard Hall (63) led the way to a commanding score of 297 for six. The Barnt Green attack then shared the wickets as Whitchurch were bowled out for 125.

The east midlands group saw Caythorpe continue their impressive form of last year when they accounted for Sandiacre Town, the 2003 Cockspur Cup Winners, by 99 runs. James Hindson scored 87 not out in Caythorpe's 217 for seven and Andy Seager with 4-14 made inroads into the Sandiacre batting. Sam Ogrizovic took five catches behind the stumps.

Loughborough Town decided to bat first at West Indian Cavaliers and scored 192 for nine; in reply Dominic Williamson scored 84 not out as the West Indians won by seven wickets with five overs in hand.

Bath visited Bridgwater and enjoyed the chance to avenge last year’s Sixth Round defeat – the third time in four years that these two clubs have met in this competition. Ben Staunton got a very good hundred for Bath and he was the difference between the two teams. Bridgwater had a 14-year-old open the bowling and two other U16s in the team so they were able to take plenty of positives from the game. Bath will now visit either Frocester or Bristol West Indians.

In the south west, St Just travelled to Werrington and scored 287 for six with David Roberts scoring 102 and Gavin Edwards 66. Werrington were always struggling in reply despite Ben Smeeth’s 103 not out and their 224 for eight was 63 runs short at the close.

Taunton St Andrews will now travel to St Just as they eased past Ilminster. Taunton led by Kevin Parsons (63) scored 200 for nine and then Kevin Sedgbeer took 4-12 as Ilminster were dismissed for 93.

Havant continued their serene progress in this year’s competition. Having lost to eventual winners Horsham in last year’s semi-final they have dreams of going one better this time. Mark Readman’s team batted first and with Andrew Perry scoring 116 and Ben Walker 57 made 256 for five. Stuart Ransley took 4-14 as Bournemouth were well beaten by 103 runs.

Reading will now travel to Havant for the Group Final after an even more impressive win over Finchampstead, who only managed 119 after David Hartley, with the best bowling of the day, took 6-17 in reply to Reading’s 261 for eight that was centered on Ben Howell’s 99.

Oxford caused an upset when they beat High Wycombe. High Wycombe scored 184 for nine and Simon (60) and Stuart Hole (55) then led Oxford to an emphatic seven-wicket victory. Next up for Oxford will be Ealing.

Harrow scored 229 for seven thanks in no small part to Dave Walker’s 126 not out and no doubt fancied their chances when they took an early wicket. Ealing had other ideas as Simon Hawk (112 not out) and Raj Rao (110 not out) put on and unbroken 226 for the second wicket.

In Group 13, Brondesbury travelled to Radlett and with Mark Lowrey (90 not out), Jason Molins (77) and Brett Penny (57 not out) in top form posted a very challenging total of 288 for two. Brett Penny then took 4-46 and Radlett were dismissed for 178 with Matt Evans top scoring with 70. Brondesbury will now travel to either Brentwood or Chingford.

Group 14 saw Blackheath score 247 for eight at The Rectory Field with David Stiff top-scoring with 53 and this total proved to be too much for Upminster, who scored 202 in reply. Blackheath will now host Wanstead, who caused a shock when they shattered Waltham’s dream of a first trip to Lord’s. Wanstead scored 243 for six with Arfan Akram 89 not out and then restricted Waltham to 150 for eight.

The local derby between Teddington and Richmond at Bushy Park was not as close a match as anticipated. Teddington batting first lost three quick wickets but Ben Duncan (109) and Robin Jones (102 not out) then added 218 for the fourth as Teddington closed on 255 for four. Richmond in reply were never really in the hunt as they regularly lost wickets and were bowled out for 141.

The other tie in this group between Brighton & Hove and Preston Nomads was played on the Saturday in place of a Sussex League fixture between the two sides as Preston had a ground opening match on the Sunday against Sussex CCC. After agreeing to the switch of the date Brighton did not extend any further generosity to their near neighbours, winning a pulsating match by a mere five runs despite Kashif Ibrahim’s valiant 95 for Preston Nomads. Brighton scored 212 for seven and Preston Nomads managed 207 for eight in reply.

Group 16 saw some of the highest scoring of the round in both matches. Bromley’s total of 295 for six was due in the main to Nadeem Shahid’s stunning 197 not out. In reply Lordswood scored extremely briskly keeping up with the required rate for a long time due to Kevin Sandhu’s 71; but wickets fell all too frequently and they quickly subsided from 103 for four to 147 all out.

Winning by 148 runs, Bromley must now travel to meet last year’s winners Horsham, who had an equally emphatic win against Sevenoaks Vine. Howard Kasey (65) and Craig Gallagher (103) put on 157 for the first wicket. Michael Thornley then weighed in with 89 not out as Horsham stormed to a total of 316 for five in their 45 overs. Sevenoaks Vine found this total far too daunting and were dismissed for 163 giving Horsham victory by 153 runs.

Results:

Cockspur Cup 2006 - 4th Round Results (35 KB)