Denby stay ahead as Spondon wobble in second

PREMIER LEADERS ARE 26 POINTS CLEAR AT THE HALFWAY STAGE

- 

STRUGGLERS Alrewas hosted Beechwood Mazda Premier Division leaders Denby in the latest round of matches which mark the halfway point of the season.

And it was Denby who dominated, moving 26 points clear at the top of the table with a comfortable seven-wicket win.

Charlie Wilson (2-34) was the first to strike for the leaders and the home side slipped to 18-2 before Gareth Woolley (32) and Tevyn Walcott (47) cheered up the home supporters with a stand of 43 for the third wicket.

But the combination of Peter Burgoyne (5-28) and Jack Richardson (2-17) proved too much for the Alrewas line-up and the innings closed on a disappointing 167 in the 39th over.

Denby openers Brayden Laffan (66) and Mitch Bradley (55) had little trouble in recording a stand of 130 and the match was all-but over.

Will Smedley (2-35) removed both openers as a consolation but man of the match Burgoyne (20 not out) was there at the end to seal an easy win.

Spondon still occupy second place despite a 27-run defeat at The Grange against mid-table Ticknall.

Ben Wright (2-56) had an early success to remove Luke Harvey cheaply but Tom Wood (129) was in superlative form for the hosts and he was joined by Rex Tooley (56) in a partnership of 114 for the second wicket.

There was no let-up for the visitors with Greg Cork (six sixes, nine fours) blasting his way to an unbeaten 89 and, in league with Wood (four sixes, 15 fours), a further 128 runs were added for the third wicket and the home side had taken the score to a formidable 301-3.

Rex Tooley (3-54) and Waseem Fazal (4-46) confirmed Ticknall's dominance as Spondon dipped to 43-4 after the break but by this time Josh Brear had taken root.