Kentish Express Ashford & District
Town’s title bid taken to final game
Ashford Town Tenterden
Tenterden dropped out of the promotion places after losing to The Mote – but they can still go up on the last day.
They head into the final round of matches on Saturday in third place in Division 1 of the Kent League, 11 points behind leaders Dartford and 10 adrift of The Mote.
They’ll be promoted if they win at Whitstable and there’s a favourable result in the meeting between the top two.
Captain Tevis Knight said: “It’s a funny situation because bonus points come into it.
“If we win and either The Mote or Dartford lose and only take a few bonus points, we’ll be up.
“It’ll be an interesting weekend. I’ll be reiterating to our players that we must concentrate on our own game. We can’t control anything else.
“Whitstable aren’t completely out of it themselves but if we play to our capabilities, I’m sure we’ll be fine.”
The Mote, on a run of five wins, closed 50 overs on 198-5 last Saturday. Tenterden lost opener The Kent League, Division 3 championship will be settled on the final day of the season.
Ashford Town missed the chance to clinch the crown when they lost to Minster by 110 runs.
They’re 10 points clear of secondplaced Old Wilsonians, who they host in a title decider on Saturday.
Darren Cooper (5-83) and Craig Buckham (5-72) ended big-hitting Minster’s innings – after nine lost balls – on 281.
Jack Richardson followed three stumpings by making 51 in reply but Ashford collapsed to 171 all out.
In the 2nd XI league, Town were bowled out for 80 in a seven-wicket defeat by Division 5 champions Minster. Openers Fraser Harrison (26) and Neil Tegg (12) were the only Ashford players in double figures. Andrew Crawford without scoring and were soon 15-3.
Chris Vernon (53) and Knight (36) led the fightback but the reply fell 17 runs short on 181 all out.
No.11 James Rand was stranded on 19 not out.
Knight said: “We bowled and fielded well. They had a couple of big hitters at the end but you couldn’t blame the bowling.
“It was a missed opportunity because we’d always back ourselves to chase 200.
“At one point, when I was batting with Chris Vernon, it was plain sailing. But I got out to a poor shot and that left too much pressure on Chris. Suddenly we needed eight an over.”
Tenterden and The Mote also met in Division 1 of the 2nd XI league.
Rob Sparks made 51 for the visitors, who were 123-5 in reply to 203-5 when rain stopped play.