Kentish Express Ashford & District
Season ends on high note
TENTERDEN AND ASHFORD BOTH HAVE CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION
Tenterden knew they were promoted the moment captain Tevis Knight took the winning catch at Whitstable.
Word had spread that Division 1 promotion rivals The Mote were on the verge of a heavy defeat by Dartford.
That meant Knight’s team just had to finish the job at the Belmont to finish runners-up and secure a place in the Kent League, Premier Division for the first time.
With his team in control, Knight couldn’t resist finding out what was happening elsewhere.
He said: “Whitstable needed 140 off 20 overs with three wickets in hand.
“I was fielding at long-off so at that point I turned to a couple of our club guys who told me The Mote were 70-7 chasing 220.
“We had a quiet spell in the field and without wanting to give away what I knew, I gave the boys the biggest gee-up but a few twigged and it fired us up.
“I took the winning catch and all the boys came flying over and bundled me.
“As we came off, The Mote were 100-9 and then it was confirmed they’d lo s t . ” Tent erden were moving along nicely at 158-2 – Ben Price making 71 – before three quick wickets brought Whitstable back into the game.
But an unbeaten eighth-wicket stand of 58 between Rob Sparks (40) and Ryan Knight (41) led the visitors to 280-7. Leus Du Plooy claimed 3-69 as Whitstable were bowled out for 237 in reply, leaving Tenterden winners by 43 runs.
Knight said: “We were a bit nervous at 180-5 but Robbie and Ryan were phenomenal with the bat – they were matchwinning knocks. Ryan smashed it everywhere.
“At one point I said I’d be happy with 240 but they got us to 280.”
Tenterden finished sixth in Division 1 of the 2nd XI league after l osing to champions Orpington by 41 runs.
Orpington were bowled out for 246, Reuben Collingwood with 2-16.
Luke Mangold (44) top scored as Tenterden made 205 in reply.
Ashford Town were crowned Kent League, Division 3 champions after rain wiped out their title decider against Old Wilsonians.
The match was abandoned without play, leaving Town 10 points clear of OWs who are promoted as runners-up.
Skipper Liam Tegg proved a key man as Ashford clinched back- t o- back promotions, top scoring with 729 runs and taking 39 wickets.
Craig Buckham’s 56 victims made him the leading wickettaker in the division.
There were also big contributions with the bat from Luke Reeves and overseas player Ethan Collett, who scored 550 and 402 runs respectively.
Jack Richardson impressed in his first season behind the stumps, claiming nine stumpings and 12 catches.
Ashford finished the 2nd XI Division 5 campaign in fourth place after beating High Halstow by 32 runs.
Opener Chris Senior top scored with 55 in Town’s total of 214.
James Rodway claimed 4-40 as 10-man Halstow made 182-9.
‘I took the winning catch and all the boys
came flying over’