Brewood breathing down Beacon’s neck
League-leaders Beacon have kept challengers Brewood at arm’s length after their comfortable victory away at Aldridge in the Staffs Clubs Championship.
Beacon made short work of their hosts on Saturday, skittling them for just 114 in 26 overs.
Matt Cartwright was the pick of the bowlers, taking 4-19 from his seven overs, before Jason Swan helped clean up the tail with two wickets in two overs. Opener James Fildes then smashed an unbeaten 67 from 31 balls to ease them to an eight-wicket victory before 10 overs had been bowled.
Second-placed Brewood have kept the heat on the leaders with a 96-run victory at rock-bottom Springvale.
James Lunn (70) top-scored for the title-hopefuls as they made 271-7, but Brewood owed a lot to an unbeaten eighth-wicket partnership of 106 from Josh Speake (57no) and Ravi Raja (42no).
Springvale opener Paul Baker carried his bat on 92 not out, but nobody stayed with him long enough for him to reach a century. They finished on 175-8.
It leaves Brewood 23 points behind the leaders with a game in hand.
Third-placed Hammerwich were the big winners of the day, and extended their lead over fourth-placed Whittington with a 127-run win over their rivals.
Hammerwich posted 304 after losing both openers for a duck. Craig Jennings (84) and Andy Malkin (76) top-scored.
Whittington were bowled out for 177 in reply, with Stephen Blews taking 4-47 and Patrick Knott took 3-25.
It extends the victors’ lead over Whittington to 27 points and keeps them within touching distance of the top two.
At the other end of the table, Penn picked up an important three-wicket victory at Rugeley thanks to a stunning captain’s performance from all-rounder Mark Green.
After taking 6-23 to bowl Rugeley out for 118, he then hit an unbeaten 45 to guide Penn over the line and remove any worries of relegation.
Muhammad Sultan provided the only resistance with the bat for Rugeley, making 51.
Rugeley are just two points above the drop zone and Bloxwich, who lost at Coseley by seven wickets.
Aaron Allcock smacked seven sixes in an entertaining 68 that helped Bloxwich reach 183. David Stibbon took 4-41 for Coseley.
But it was Nathan Howell, who removed both of Bloxwich’s openers, who was the match-winner, thanks to an unbeaten 85 from 36 balls that included 10 sixes and four fours.
Brewood are going for a rare double, because their second string are just four points behind Old Wulfrunians in Division One after skittling rock-bottom Rugeley Seconds out for a measly 53.
Beacon’s second string, however, are in danger of getting relegated from Division One after losing to Aldridge Seconds by seven wickets.
West Bromwich Dartmouth’s third string remain top of Division Two after a comfortable 10-wicket victory over Penn Seconds.
Whittington Seconds and Aldridge Thirds are battling it out for the other promotion spot while Penkridge Thirds and Great Barr Seconds are fighting to stay up.
Walsall YPF’s Second XI are top of Division Three, and Wightfield & Finchfield Seconds lead Division Four.
