EATON Socon ended their Hunts County Bats Division One championship season with an easy 139-run win over Waresley II and are already talking up their chances in the TuckerGardner League next season.

Promotion was secured last week when second-placed Huntingdon & District beat third-placed Blunham, who still had a game in hand over the champions, while Alconbury were unable to raise a team for their match against Eaton.

So the pressure was off on Saturday when the captain Terry Day told The Hunts Post: “We started the season believing we had a good chance of promotion with a lot more strength in our squad than previous seasons.

“We got off to a good start winning our first three games but then suffered back-to-back defeats. In the last two seasons we wouldn’t have recovered from that but our superb team spirit meant we were able to bounce back and win our last nine games to win the league.

“Everybody has played their part with our numbers three, four and five – Dave Humphrey, Namal Senaviratna and Ray Tudor – scoring the bulk of the runs, and seamers Chris Box, Ben Gowling and Roan Haarhoff performing well with the ball.

“We are looking forward to next season in the TuckerGardner Premier League – we are stronger than we were last time we were in it and if we can keep our current squad and add to it we will be looking for a top half finish.”

On Saturday Eaton batted first and made 225 with Senaviratna knocking off 52 runs and Joe Donnelly 35. Waresley were dismissed for just 86 with Haarhoff taking three for 30, Day two for 12 and Asama Weerasekara two for 22.

Alconbury’s fate at the bottom of the table is no longer in their hands. They were beaten at Ufford Park on Saturday and have now played all of their matches – but Barnack, who are one place below them on the bottom of the table on exactly the same points, still have a game to play.

If the Peterborough side pick up a single point at Ramsey II on Saturday, Alconbury will be relegated.

THERE are two Huntingdonshire sides involved in the battle at the bottom of Division Two.

Sawtry sit at the bottom of the division on 115 points with Houghton & Wyton directly above them with 120. However, it is Sawtry who have the advantage with two games left to play compared to Houghton’s one.

One Saturday Houghton play their last game of the season at home to Hampton, while Sawtry are away at Orton Park.

ANDY Reid hit an impressive 104 when Huntingdon & District II beat Warboys in Division Three of the Hunts County Bats League.

Batting first, Huntingdon made 297 for the loss of just four wickets with Craig Leigh adding 70 runs, Phil Wright 46 and Nik Kumpukkal 47.

Warboys made a respectable 217 in their chase with Connor Withers hitting 72 and Murray Reid (three for 18), Freddie Khan (three for 28) and Kumpukkal (two for 31) picking up the wickets.

WITH two games of the season remaining, Ramsey are safe in Division One of the TuckerGardner Premier Division for another year.

Foxton succeeded the Huntingdonshire side as TuckerGardner champions on Saturday when they beat St Ives Town by 35 runs.

Godmanchester Town won game 20 of the 22-game season when they beat March by four wickets at the Parks.

In Division Two the chase is on for the two promotion places and in third and fourth are Waresley and Warboys – both of whom are still in with a chance of going up.

On Saturday Waresely are at home to Harwick & Coldecote while Warboys are away at Fordham. But wins for either leaders Cambridge NCI or second-placed Newborough would all but put an end to the Hunts teams hopes.

?NEEDINGWORTH clinched the Cambs Cricket Association Junior Two A title with a tense home win at Pymoor on Saturday.

The pressure was on for the home side who had to win to win the game to secure promotion but batting first Callum Mitcham’s 26 was the highlight of their innings as they stumbled to a miserly 90 for eight.

Some senisble late order batting from Moody Yakub (15) and Matt Best (18 not out) lifted to them to what looked a below par 124 for nine – but Pymoor’s response was dealt an immediate blow with Ben Carter (three for 23) and Dan Sherlock five for 38) tearing through the top order.

With Pymoor rocking at 31 for six, the lower order dug its heels in and chipped away at the target. The final wicket fell with Pymoor on 88.

Needingworth captain Ian Armstrong said: “Our promotion as champions is the result of a lot of hard work over the last two seasons.

“We have a dedicated squad which is a perfect blend of youth – developed through the Needingworth junior system – and experienced campaigners.

“We are looking forward to the 2103 season with great anticipation of moving the club forward yet again.”

?ABBOTS Ripton made it thorugh the season unbeaten with a massive win at Burwell on Saturday.

The Cambs Cricket Association Junior League Division Three A champions, lost the toss and were put into bat, scoring a remarkable 301 for four wickets from 40 overs. Lee Smith hit an amazing 162 not out with 10 sixes and 14 fours along the way to take his average for the season to more than 100. Jerry Hyde also managed a century finishing on 102 after hitting 17 fours.

In reply, Burwell were all out for 117 with James Hyde (four for 13) and Scott Walton (two for 16) the best of the bowlers.