Hucknall tighten grip on top three place and are eyeing up second
Hucknall saw their chances of finishing in the top three in this season’s Nottinghamshire Premier League strengthened after the latest round of matches.
And with five games left, they are still in strong contention to finish the season as runners-up behind champions-elect Kimberley Institute.
Hucknall secured another win with a 69-run success over Collingham & District.
Greg Willows was the standout performer for Hucknall with 107 off 93 balls, hitting nine fours and three sixes, as Hucknall posted 322-5 in their 50 overs.
Willows put on 70 with skipper Sam Johnson (40) for the third wicket, then 109 with Jacob Taylor (53) for the fourth and 67 with Archie Moore (42) for the fifth before the latter took the hosts past 300.
Collingham’s reply was then undone by Taylor, who completed an an excellent all-round game with 5-26 as several visiting batters got starts but couldn’t go on, Rhett Bridgens (48) and Liam Tew (47) scoring best, while Taylor was well supported by Daniel Blatherwick (3-43) and George Blatherwick (2-55).
Hucknall remain third in the table, eight points behind second-placed Cuckney but now 22 clear of fourth-placed Clipstone, who lost at Wollaton.
And Hucknall could go level with Cuckney this weekend if they win and Cuckney lose to leaders Kimberley, who will be champions if they win.
Papplewick & Linby continued their second-half-of-the-season surge with a dominant nine-wicket win over Mansfield Hosiery Mills.
Papplewick’s bowlers were on fine form as they dismissed Mansfield for 125 in 42.5 overs.
Ewan Crofts led the way with 3-20, while there were two wickets each for Alex Moor, Sam Walker and Dillon Singh.
Papplewick lost Max Hunt early in reply but that was the only wicket to fall as Joe Walker (35no) and Robin Smith (74no) put on an unbeaten second-wicket stand of 112 to see them home at 129-1 in 17.1 overs.
Other results: Caythorpe 207 all out, beat Cavaliers & Carrington 195 all out, by 12 runs; Kimberley Institute 114-5, beat Attenborough 113 all out, by five wickets; Notts Arnold & Amateur 170 all out, lost to Cuckney 172-5, by five wickets; Wollaton 305-4, beat Clipstone 299 all out, by six runs.