RAMSEY missed an opportunity to make up ground on the TuckerGardner Premier One leaders Wisbech Town when the two teams drew at The Cricketfield on Saturday – but the captain, Taylor West, who took six wickets in the game, says it’s not over yet.

There are eight games remaining of the season and the chase for the top spot looks like it will go right down to the wire. Last year’s champions, Foxton have also found some form again and are now in third, while fourth-placed March Town – and possibly Godmanchester Town in fifth – should not be dismissed either.

“It’s still wide open,” said West. Both teams [Ramsey and Wisbech] will more than likely lose games yet this season.

“We have March away this Saturday and that is going to be another tough game. There is a lot of cricket to be played.

“We were a little bit disappointed with the draw because we thought we had a chance but we lost a few early wickets.

“With 15 overs to go we thought we were in a position to have a go – but then we lost a few more wickets.”

West took his six wickets for 57 runs as Wisbech finished 210 all out, but the early dismissal of their in-form captain Alan Burton must have gievn Ramsey real hope of a win.

The in-form batsman was caught by Luke Stewart from a Michael Kay ball for just four runs, but his replacement at the crease, Josh Bowers, made an excellent 82, which included three sixes, before becoming West’s first victim. In reply, Ramsey used all 48 of their overs but only managed to reach 138-9, Stewart top-scoring with 60.

Godmanchester Town, meanwhile, claimed the bragging rights as they inflicted on St Ives Town their second Hunts derby defeat of the season.

St Ives’ mini-recovery, with last week’s victory over Waresley, looked to be on course when they had their hosts stuttering at 89-5, but a magnificent 89 by Chethan William – Godmanchester’s highest individual score of the season – led his side to a very respectable 208 all out aided by the tail end batsmen who all supported him well.

Then, as St Ives chased their target, Elliot Baldwin, who with 28 had contributed his highest league score for several seasons, also produced his best bowling performance of the season, picking up five wickets as St Ives were bowled out cheaply for just 116 as they chased 208.

Kevin Sequenza did take 4-44 for St Ives but it was the batting that let them down and only the captain Bevis Maynan made much of an impact, carrying his bat for 33 from fifth man.

Foxton were able to go above March because the Fenland team were beaten by Waresley.

After March had won the toss and put the home side into bat, Robert Craze hit a steady 76 with his team ending their 48 overs at 203-6. In reply March floundered and were all out for 147 in the 35th over with Craze (3-34) and Robert Lowin (3-9) taking six of the wickets and Sheikh Baqar Ali (4-68) the rest.

In Division Two, Eaton Socon got back to winning ways with an 82-run win over Weston Colville. Eaton made 185-9 thanks to Chris Budd’s 64. In reply, Ryan Worboys took two early wickets to get things going and Ben Gowling took four for 28 before Ryan Vale took the last two wickets with the last two balls.

Eaton are now second but only by one point from Saffron walden, while Warboys in fifth drew their match with Newborough and are only 24 points off the top themselves. This division too looks like it could be going down to the wire as well.

HUNTS COUNTY BATS HUNTS LEAGUE

GODMANCHESTER Town II scored a stunning 323 in their 45 overs against Burghley Park in Division One of the Hunts County Bats League with a fantastic 91 from Rob Howells in just 37 balls.

Howell’s reached his half century in just 22 deliveries with his brother, James Howells, hitting 68 and Doug Bentley scoring 54 not out.

Burghley Park made a good effort in trying to chase such a big total with some positive batting but were bowled out for 177 with Jamie Rice (3-55) and Dan Malem (3-21) taking six of the wickets between them.

That result can give the team real confidence as they continue to chase the two at the top of the table – Blunham, who had a six-wicket win over Ufford Park on Saturday – and second-placed Huntingdon & District, who demolished Ramsey II, beating them by 152 runs.

At the bottom of the table, Waresley II now look destined for the drop with only one win from their 12 games. This time it was Southill Park who put them to the sword with a 169-run victory.

Waresley were set a target of 261-4 but never got going and were all out for 92 in 32.1 overs. At least Jamie Fensome (31) and Charlie Lewis (30) put up a bit of a fight but they were the only two batsmen to break into double figures.

Eaton Socon II had an easy win over Sawtry in Division Two. Eaton made 193-8 with Will Hall hitting 70. Eaton then blew away Sawtry for just 65 with Adam Newman (4-17) and Roan Haarhoff (4-35) the prime movers with the ball.

Brian Chapman took 5-38 for Sawtry but with the bat his team-mates let him down and Ian Bonsall, the only one to reach double figures, top-scored with 12.

Alconbury suffered an eight-wicket defeat at Orton Park after setting their opponents a target of 217 with Gary Cole hitting 48. In reply, Orton lost just two wickets as they coasted to victory.

Ben Duncan hit 61 for Warboys in their two-wicket win at AK XI. Ryan Drage took four of the wickets for 40 runs.

Houghton & Wyton had it easy against visitors Jinnah in Division Three with Simon Wells (36) and Julian Hale (17) doing enough on their own in 17 overs as they chased a measly 72.

Stuart Brown scored 68 as opener for Buckden but 177 wasn’t enough against Blunham II who scored 181 for the loss of just two wickets.

Rowan Abraham took 4-38 for Upwood against Newborough but his efforts were in vain too in a four-wicket defeat.

Andrew Reid’s 61 was the highlight of Huntingdon & District II’s six-wicket defeat at Biggleswade.

Huntingdon actually set a target of 233 with Liam Gaynor adding 42 – but the home side were in fine form and lost just four wickets on their chrge to the win.

Brampton, in Division Four, beat Little Paxton by 50 runs. Brampton batted first and were struggling on 19-4 on an unpredictable pitch. However, a fightback from Mark Rix (48) and Rich Kelly (24) moved Brampton to 150 all out.

An economical bowling spell by Rob Trewin of three wickets for 11 runs from eight overs, assisted by Oli Day (3-51) did the damage to the Little Paxton batsmen and they were all out for a nice round 100.

Buckden II suffered a four-wicket defeat at Yaxley II despite reaching 195 and Trevor Mews’s five wickets for 64 runs.

Not content with his three wickets for 21 for Godmanchester II on the Saturday, Dan Malem hit 124 for Godmanchester Town III on Sunday when they smashed Great Staughton for a 244-run win. Jack Baynes took 4-11 as Goddy bowled their opponents all out for just 50.