Unfortunately the weather broke briefly in the morning, and a couple of light showers freshened up the track that had been used on the Saturday, so that Linden Park had no hesitation in asking Wells Sunday I to bat first.

   Unbeknownst to the visitors, Wells had experienced alarming availabilty problems, but this was not apparent as Dominic Lanaway proceeded to remove two of the home 'stars' as the score crumbled to 11-3, with Ben Entacott, after his inter-club transfer, adding another. Sam Watts once again played quite beautifully, putting together a fluent and well-struck 45 with 6 fours, and Brough Cooper helped as the score was taken to 69 before both perished to indifferent events. The home tail-enders were rallied by Rob Teague's quickfire hitting and Marc Newbould's crease-occupation saw the total reach exactly 100 as Park grabbed the final wicket. The innings had not used 13.4 overs of the allocated 40, and Ben Cobb picked up the remarkable haul of 6-21 from his eight penetrating overs. Fine catches were held by Clarke, Lanaway and Morkel, and the target was beguilingly modest.

   The reply was launched by Aussie Jayden Hoare, who blasted 22 in no time before Chris Rainger plucked the most amazing one-handed catch out of the air at third man. A certain six was uppercut off Chris Lawrence, and Rainger was fully off the ground as he completed the effort, which somewhat stunned the Park observers. Despite the rock-steady Tom Davis (33), the pitch became bewitched as the home attack, such as it was, made astonishing headway. Davis guided the score up to 83-2, whereupon veteran Jock Paterson (2-12) and captain Alex Williams (4-10) all but destroyed some uncertain batting as the tally crashed to 98-8. Young Matthew Withers finally ended the nailbiting final moments with a rare boundary to take Park to a two-wicket win, although it was agreed later that bragging rights would be suspended after such a glorious cricket match, and much celebration latterly ensued.

   Wells travelled to Holmesdale earlier than planned for this League encounter, Cup commitments on the due day being the problem, and the home side were most accomodating in this difficulty. Newly-promoted Holmesdale won the toss and opted to field first, an opportunity happily taken up by the visiting batsmen.

   An opening stand of 60 in eleven overs between James Sharp and Gregor Paterson set the mood of the innings, although Holmesdale then broke through with Harry Galpin's spell of 3-8 knocking back the score to 74-3. Oli Priestman (82) reinstated the Wells advance, with stout support from Max Thorpe and Sam Stickler (39), although the home groundwork left much to be desired as several chances were spilled as the acceleration took place. The classical 2009 formula was followed as the innings maintained a run-per-ball throughout the 40 overs, and a target of 244 was set.

   A wicket from Matt Green's first ball rocked Homesdale's reply, but recovery came from Michael Bryant and Galpin as the score was taken up to 57-2 after 16 overs. Stickler (2-14) and debutant Dominic Trett (4-20) tore out the middle order, and effectively sealed the contest as the innings slid to 79-7 in a further six overs. Late resistance was forthcoming from David Roffey and Sam Harris, who added 42 for the eighth partnership, but now Priestman (3-19) snapped up three wickets in ten balls to conclude matters, Holmesdale falling short by 112 runs.

   The home XI will have learned much from the encounter, Harris in particular having a busy day, top-scoring with an undefeated 29 and grabbing four catches and a stumping. Had those earlier catches been held, the story must have been very different, yet the real feature of the match was the youthful make-up of both XIs, a very splendid sign for the future of local cricket.

   HSBC won the toss and batted at The Nevill, being able only to post an underpar 144 at the close of their innings, as the home attack went through their routines with scarcely an interruption.

   Bradley Wootton (58) played a fine attacking knock that enabled the visitors to reach 96-1 after 20 overs, but this was a high point, and the innings subsided rather as the bowlers broke down the lineup with steady inroads that never allowed the lower order to flourish. Evert Bekker (3-23) and Matt Green (2-22) provided the pace success, while Gregor Paterson (2-19) raised the flag for the spinners, skipper Alex Williams holding two wonderful catches for him.

   Theo Burley added to his list of stumpings, and generally the impression given was of 'business as usual'.

   The chase was fashioned by a masterful undefeated 79 (14 fours) from Sam Watts, given the opener's spot with Jamie Baldwin, and throughly relishing the responsibility. Watts soon lost his fellow-opener, but then added 70 with Paterson for the second wicket, which took the total past the halfway point and brought the target within range. Another dismissal slowed progress until the skipper joined Watts, Williams and he rushing to add the final 26 runs required in just 14 balls. The win came with almost ten overs and seven wickets in hand. 

   A strong Wells Sunday League XI was unable to put away the skilful if inexperienced Hartley spinners, and lost the cream of their batting too soon, while those following were unable to recover the lost ground, and a final total of 121 was the result.

   Patrick Underwood (4-8) wrecked the middle order, after James Cramp - who had enjoyed some Premier Division successes - and the spinners took out the top order despite conceding plenty of early runs. Gregor Paterson (22) and Richard Cutts (27) pushed the total up to 80-3, from which peak the score tumbled to 121 all out, the seven wickets falling while just 41 runs were added, Alisdair Manser (14) leading the lower order effort. Five overs were unused, and the customary Wells run-per-ball tally was dismally unreached.

   The reply was given a few jolts, as Chris Fenwick (2-17) and Matt Green reduced the score to 22-3, but there was steel in the visiting middle order, and Scott McKechnie stood firm to fashion a matchwinning half-century. Support came from Underwood, P., and Jack Redden, and, although Wells took six wickets in all, the last 31 runs came at a gallop with the victory assured.

   The table shows both sides level on points, but Hartley have a game in hand, and are neatly poised to take over the leadership. They need to keep their belief, and it can all stem from there as the season unfolds.

Blackheath CC KDSL XI

   Blackheath won the toss and batted, suffering an early setback as Chris Fenwick struck, but they rallied strongly. The total reached 110-2 after 20 overs, and the match was in the balance.

   Adam Senn (46) and Richard Fleming (40) were chiefly responsible for the sound base that suggested a daunting target total, and Wells had run through several bowling options in vain by the halfway point, yet once again, a game at The Nevill was to undergo a surprising and memorable twist. 

   After having had a hand in an important run-out, Matt Green entered upon a second spell that brought him a most remarkable and notable personal tally. His second, third and fourth wickets comprised a Hat-Trick, and he went on to complete a five-wicket haul (5-20), to become only the second Wells player to achieve the feat in Aero Sunday League cricket. Following upon the heroics of Senn and Fleming, the Blackheath innings was now in complete disarray, and finally closed, with a few balls unused, at 147 all out.

   The reply was lauched in typical ebullient fashion by Chris Williams (44), opening with Jamie Baldwin who assisted in putting up 96 runs for the first partnership that came from 17 overs. The destination of the match was fairly well decided by this point, although Baldwin was to reach his fifty before falling to Grady Bridges (2-26) having hit six fours and two sixes in 52 out of 110. Despite a fourth wicket going down at 115, Will Stickler and Alex Williams experienced no further alarms as they took their side to a win by six wickets with eight overs in hand.

   This success, in parallel with Hartley's own victory, kept the two sides at the head of the table, albeit that Wells have played one game more in the campaign.

   Lordswood won the toss at The Nevill and batted first, being greatly indebted to Nathan Moore (56) for a lengthy anchoring innings that received precious little support. The one main partnership added 46 for the fourth wicket with Matt Greenwood (26), while the remainder of the line-up was rather swept aside by Fred Florry (3-26) and Matt Green (3-15), with notable contributions from David Green (2-31), Michael Churchill and Dominic Trett. Lordswood may take some solace from the fact that these Wells lads were in much the same situation just a couple of years back. Moore's sterling 97-ball vigil ended at 104-6, and the tail did not wag despite a few lusty blows from Tom Davies, and the target was set at 118 for Wells to chase.

   The reply was sorely troubled by the fire and accuracy of John Williams (1-18) and Greenwood (3-14), and the score uncertainly rose to 70-4 from 17 overs while these two held sway. As they gave way to other bowlers, the home batsmen were able to play with a little more freedom, and Sam Stickler (28 not out with 3 fours) proved particularly hard to dislodge. Skipper Alex Williams came in to join Stickler when Churchill was bowled at 90-5, and these two knocked off the remaining 30 runs without undue alarm. Greenwood enjoyed a fine all-round match for the visitors.

   With Blackheath beating Hartley in Division One, Wells now move out into the sole leading position, the game-in-hand keeping the pressure upon Hartley to play catch-up now that they are four points behind.