A POLICE intervention could not save Hilton from sliding to defeat against Eaton Socon III. Socon batted first and struggled to 120 with David Donnelly (29) leading the run race. Chris McKay (5-10) then led the bowling attack in style and reduced Hilton t

A POLICE intervention could not save Hilton from sliding to defeat against Eaton Socon III.

Socon batted first and struggled to 120 with David Donnelly (29) leading the run race. Chris McKay (5-10) then led the bowling attack in style and reduced Hilton to 88-9, before the long arm of the law made its presence felt.

The Hilton ground has a road through it which the club have permission to close a section of during games for safety reasons.

A arrived and was concerned that the correct road traffic signs were not being displayed and held up play for half an hour.

Despite the delay, Hilton were unable to get out of jail as Socon stole the points by mopping up the last wicket on the resumption.

Tucker Leagues 1/2

A THRILLING climax to Ramsey's drawn game at Burwell in Tucker League 1 saw all three results still possible on the last ball of the match.

Burwell had posted 212-5, with only Grant De Kock (3-57) proving a handful for the home batsmen. Jack Little (87) and De Kock (54) got things moving for Rams but Ed Manchett was run out off the final ball when going for a third to leave the match tied.

Castor had no answer to Eaton Socon's Dominic Marchant (7-19) who ripped out their first seven batsmen. Jon Carpenter (3-11) then mopped up the rest as Castor tumbled for 68. Socon reach 72 with five down but it needed a good performance from Matt Childerley (33) to see them home.

Weston Colville made a good 198-6 in a rain-affected innings against Waresley, who then had a slightly reduced total of 183 to chase. Simon Blows (40) got the innings off to a flyer and Waresley got in with six down to secure the points.

Cambs Senior 1/2

ELY'S batsmen shaped up well against Yelling as they recorded 166-3, but it was the visitors that had the answers as they made light work of the requirement and got home with overs to spare. Aaron Johnson (57*) led the way to 167-2, supported by Chris Clarke (43*).

Stapleford were no match for St Ives and were quickly dispatched for a meagre 66. Ives openers Reuan Williams (37*) and Ricky Grieller (26*) made sure of an early finish.

Cambs 1A

NEEDINGWORTH secured a win against Isleham thanks to a good all-round team performance. Batting first, Needingworth were indebted to Callum Mitcham (72*) who held the innings together, aided by Russ Kirk (59) to leave Needingworth on 182-8. Good bowling performances by Bob Milne (3-17) and Mitcham (4-33) left Isleham 26 runs short at the close.

Cambs 3A

MICK Gifford and Andy Taylor took three wickets each as Fenstanton restricted Wimblington to 163-8 but it was all in vain as Fenstanton collapsed to 54 all out, with only Taylor (11) holding up Wimblington's charge.

Cambs League Round-Up

Godmanchester II (141-8) drew with March Town (285-8), Foxton (234-8) bt Bluntisham (147), Yaxley (161-2) bt Kimbolton (159), Fulbourn (194-8) bt Elsworth (69), March III (71-2) bt Somersham II (70), St Ives III (137-9) bt Ely II (122), Cambourne (201) bt Comberton (97), Bluntisham II (121) bt Chatteris II (81), Over III (139-7) bt Needingworth II (138), Elsworth II (56) lost to Newton (185).

Hunts League 1

HOSTS Upwood were asked to bat by Alconbury and looked to have set the base for a good total until Pieter Hattingh (47) was run out with the score on 51.

The Alconbury bowlers suddenly struck gold and picked up the next nine wickets for just 17 runs. The spell also included 15 consecutive maiden overs, with Richard Ewing (3-6) and Gary Cole (3-21) at times unplayable.

The visitors then rattled along to 69-2 with Richard Willcock (38*) and Neil Suckling (19) making no mistake.

In-form Huntingdon had a complete collapse against Dean when the game was all but won. Dean had made a respectable 154-7 on a damp track with Daniel Czaicki (59*) and Tom Russell (45) rebuilding the innings after early losses. Pick of the Huntingdon bowlers was Humza Rashid (3-32) who bowled with great control.

Mohammed Iqbal (68) and Navid Ahmed (24) took Huntingdon to the brink of victory at 138-4 but Richard Eddy (5-28) and a remarkable collapse that saw six wickets fall for just five runs gave Dean victory.

Hunts 2

WARESLEY II were asked to bat at Warboys but made the hosts pay as they ran up a workman-like 186-8 with Nick Greenfield (56) the pick of the batsmen with a solid innings.

Old head Pat Ellerbeck (4-20) and youngster Terry Hayden (3-22) cast a spell on the Witches' batting line up and dismissed them for 64 with the extras (22) top-scoring.

Hunts 3

EATON Socon II got cracking in a rain reduced game against Netts with Tony Reedman (58) and Carl Baker (43) pushing the total to 158-8 from 31 overs. Netts then got in a tangle and crashed to 55 all out

Hunts 5

BRAMPTON regretted the decision to bat first at Ramsey III, with only Andy Canham (42) and Andy Pegram (25) making runs as they limped to 121 all out. Nigel Broughton (5-18) hit the right spot and got the just rewards.

Dan Malem (61*) proved that the wicket had plenty of runs in it and although Oliver Day (3-65) and Duncan McGregor (3-18) bowled well, Rams got in by four wickets.

Great Staughton's march continued in fine style with 67-run win against Warboys III.

Aussie Pete French made 51 and with Jonny Brittain making 33, Staughton set Warboys 147 to win even though Grant McMurdo (5-43) did his best to keep the runs in check. Warboys could find no answer to Dave Oddy (7-13) with only Mick Hoy (30*) prepared to stand and fight as they were crushed for just 81.

Rest of Hunts League

Sawtry (140-9) lost to Burghley Park (200-8), Ramsey II (124) lost to Barnack (204-7), Perkins (113-1) bt Houghton & Wyton (112), Ufford Park (210) bt Buckden (201-7), Upwood (134) bt Kimbolton II (128), Werrington (145) bt Warboys II (124),

Alconbury II (179-5) bt Werrington (178-5), Sawtry II (138-5) v Buckden II (137)

County Tour

HUNTINGDONSHIRE were only beaten by the weather in their tour to the North East.

Rain prevented play at Durham but they managed to take a win from the first innings only against Northumberland as rain washed out day two. The hosts declared after 55 overs on 204-5 and thanks to Paul Swannell (65) and Ashley Rodgers (39) Hunts ran up 235 before being dismissed.

East Anglian Premier League

PAUL Swannell was at his best again, but this time with the ball, as bottom of the league Fakenham were swept aside for a paltry 79 after electing to bat first in Norfolk.

The match was shortened after early morning rain and further stoppages during the match, but Goddy were in no mood to let this stop them.

Swannell (7-23) was helped by some excellent fielding but at times he was virtually unplayable as he made the most of the damp overcast conditions.

In reply Godmanchester set about their task in a meaningful manner and with Matt Pateman (48*) and Matt Durrant (30) leading the charge, they quickly had the points in the bag.

Christmas Cup Final

RAMSEY grabbed the first bit of silverware of the season when they beat neighbours Upwood by two runs in a tense final.

Jack Little (33) and Peter Youds (30) were the backbone of Rams' 129-8. Mark Willis (63) gave Upwood a real chance but he was run out in the final over as Upwood fell just two runs short. Ramsey's Ed Manchett (4-41) was the pick of the bowlers.

Rutland League

EATON Socon sprung a surprise on unbeaten league leaders Finedon with a 24-run win. Tom Walker and Matt Rawlings (both 47) ensured Socon made a competitive total and with Jon Carpenter (4-39) and Simon Cooper (3-25) hitting the right spot Finedon were dismissed for 174

Beds League

WARESLEY always held the upper hand against Southill Park and Ian Hayden (43) helped the score to 219-7. Laurence Bosher (3-26) then got to work with the ball and Park could only managed 132.

Junior Cricket

WARBOYS U15s continue to fly the county flag after a stunning eight-run win against Norfolk side Vauxhall Mallards. Batting first, Warboys looked well short of a competitive total as they made 69-7 from their 20 overs with Adam Hyde (31) contributing nearly half of them.

Mallards looked to be flying at 40-1 from nine overs, but accurate bowling backed up by some exceptional fielding saw the visitors reduced to 61 all out.

Needingworth U13s recorded a good 15-run win against Buckden. Alex Merry (23*) led the way for Needingworth who totalled 101-6.

In reply Buckden gave themselves a great opportunity to win as they got to 73-2 but then threw it all away to crash to 86 all out.

Godmanchester U9's 167-2 proved a little too strong for Warboys' 96-9 but the Warboys team put up a brave fight with Katie O'Grady leading the way with the bat after Nadine Mockett had starred with the ball.