ALCONBURY continue to lead the Hunts County Bats top division after another fine win on Saturday – and captain Dave Cotton sees no reason why the club stay there.

In blustery conditions, Alconbury beat a weakened Barnack side on Saturday and now look forward to a big day at Saton Socon next week – a team Cotton says they need to be wary off.

“We’re taking each game as it comes, to use a clich�,” said Cotton. “Ironically we are really struggling for players. But we have a decent group of lads at the club and they are really performing well. They are playing to the best of their abilities.

“Huntingdon are always a threat and Blunham are the unknowns because they have just come up and are doing so well – and Eaton Socon are a top team and it will be a tough game against them next Saturday.”

After opting to bowl first, Alconbury restricted Barnack to just 25 runs off the first 15 overs with Dexter Ewing picking up three wickets for 20 runs in a fine opening spell.

Barnack opener Gary Scotcher put up stern resistance but spin merchant Richard Ewing soon got him caught for 41.

Harry Cotton was again among the wickets taking three for 18 and finally bowling them out for 97.

In reply Martin Ruff scored a fine 47 not out to give Alconbury the win and 18 valuable points.

Nineteen-year-old Ashley Wells took his best ever senior figures for Ramsey II against Waresley II on Saturday.

The bowler stole the show in his side’s eight-wicket victory claiming six for 28 runs of just 12 overs. That haul beat his previous personal best of five wickets against March in 2010.

Warsley batted first and set Ramsey a target of 133 for eight. Their captain Philip Gillet was not out for 31 and Peter Colebrook had a decent knock of 23.

Ramsey’s Tim Willis made a notable contribution to his side’s cause with a stunning run out from the mid-on position from a left-handed direct throw.

Two catches from the captain Mathew Taylor and one from Dan Malem at gully restricted Waresley so that Pete Youds (50 not out) and big hitters Stephen Buddle (44) and Malem (28) could make light work of the reply.

Eaton Socon suffered another batting collapse in a six-wicket defeat at Burghley Park. After losing the toss on a damp track, Eaton found themselves in deep trouble at seven for four.

A 55-run fifth wicket partnership between Will Hall (28) and Terry Day (27) steadied the ship but once Day was bowled, Eaton fell to 82 all out.

Burghley knocked off the runs for the loss of just four wickets, despite Ben Gowling taking three for 28.

Godmanchester Town II lost by 109 runs at home to Blunham whose Shabz Hussain hit a brilliant 75.

Goddy’s James Howells was their high scorer with 31 not out as they completely fell apart chasing 181. Only opener Stuart Bryden joined Howells in double figures when he got 14. They were all out for 72 in 25 overs.

Huntingdon & District kept up their chase of Alconbury with a 65-run win over third placed Ufford Park.

Hunts 2

SAWTRY were comprehensively thrashed by Southill Park who took just 2.3 overs to reach their total of 39.

All out in 18.3 overs, Sawtry’s Chris Dalton and Shaun Hubbard were smashed all over the park by Andrew Collins (7) and Adam Giddings, who hit three sixes, in just 15 balls!

Eaton Socon II are up to second in Division Two Hunts County Bat after beating Old Eastonians with Bob Nicklin once again taking charge with the bat.

Batting first, Eaton made 181 for seven with Nicklin making 50 and joe donnelly 42. Old eastonians made 164 for eight in reply with Dan Newman taking three wickets for 51 in the 17-run.

Houghton & Wyton were beaten by AK XI by 91 runs.

Hunts 3

Upwood beat Ickwell by seven wickets in Division Three of the Hunts County Bats League.

It looked like Ickwell had done enough when they posted a target of 232 from 45 overs, with Peter Sowerby hitting 106 not out.

But Andrew Lea (73 not out) and Jamie Hutchcraft (59) and David Drage (39) did the business with the bat for the win.

Rutland League

EATON Socon II beat Rothwell by five wickets in Division Five of the Rutland League.

Rothwell were dismissed for a round 100 with Joe Dawborn taking a hat trick and finishing with the amazing figures of 12-7-8-7.

Bob Nicklin made 31 as Eaton reached their target for the loss of five wickets.

Alconbury fought hard in Division Six but just came up short against Warboys on Sunday.

After a promising start, Alconbury reached 50 for the loss of just one wicket with Roland Amft scoring 24. However the middle order suffered a collapse which saw the visitors reduced to 82 for nine.

A last wicket partnership of 37 between Charlie Nelson (27) and Robbie James (12) eventually saw Alconbury reach 119 – but it never looked quite enough.

Warboys were strolling to victory at 90 for three but after a late flurry of wickets –

Harry Cotton got three for 16 – they eventually reached their target of 120 to win by three wickets.