WARESLEY captain Steve Warman said his team would regroup for next season after missing out on promotion from Tucker 2 on the last day of the season.

WARESLEY captain Steve Warman said his team would regroup for next season after missing out on promotion from Tucker 2 on the last day of the season.

Warman’s charges went into the final round of games with promotion in their grasp, but faced table-toppers Ickwell, with third-placed St Ives at home to strugglers Bluntisham.

St Ives easily overcame Bluntisham to secure their promotion, and Ickwell’s three-wicket win meant Waresley were left with nothing.

Warman said “I knew nothing short of a win was going to be good enough for us, so decided to bat first. We posted a decent score although I was hoping for 200-plus.”

Warman’s decision looked sound as Matt Rawlings (32) and Simon Donald (15) moved the score to 52 for the first wicket. A change of bowling slowed the progress and it needed Phil Masdin (33) and Simon Blows (51*) to lift the score to 183-7.

Ickwell’s reply started poorly and they stood at 23-3 at one stage, before the middle order rallied. Ross Fensome (68), Jay Szwajbak (26) and David Robertson (41*) helped them to squeeze home in the final over to take the title.

Despite the disappointment, Warman paid tribute to Ickwell and St Ives.

“They are both good strong sides, and they have each beaten us twice this season, so I guess they both deserve to go up.

“I’m disappointed that we fell at the last hurdle, but to be honest, I would have taken third spot at the start of the season.

“Last April, we went on the field with a reshaped squad so I would have been happy with third. I know we will be back wiser and stronger for the 2011 season.”

Warman expects to retain the existing players for the assault on the title next year and is hopeful of landing some new faces to bolster the squad.

Waresley’s woes were joy for St Ives as they swept aside relegated Bluntisham to secure the runners-up slot.

Ives openers Tom Beale (86), pictured, and Steve Setchell (66) tore the opening attack to shreds in an opening stand of 156, allowing Ives to declared on 225-5.

Steve Dighton (63) threatened to spoil the Ives party but once he was dismissed Bluntisham folded to 168 all out.

TUCKER GARDNER DIVISION TWO

P W L D A BP Pts

Ickwell 22 13 2 4 3 134 409

St Ives Town 22 12 3 5 2 152 402

Waresley 22 11 4 5 2 167 397

Weston Colville 22 9 8 2 3 151 346

Cambridge NCI 22 8 7 7 0 173 333

Saffron Walden 22 8 7 5 2 143 313

Godmanchester Town 22 6 7 6 3 171 306

Yaxley 22 6 11 2 3 163 298

Castor & Ailsworth 22 7 9 5 1 138 283

Babraham 22 7 8 5 2 128 278

Barnack 22 4 13 2 3 134 229

Bluntisham 22 3 15 2 2 149 219