CANTERBURY & DISTRICT BAT & TRAP LEAGUE: GREEN LION SEE OFF THEIR NEAREST CHALLENGERS

Golden Lion A remain top of the Premiership following a 2- 0 home win over second-placed Littlebourne Rec. Lions’ Bruce Aitken amassed 31 points in the first leg, which his team won 60-31. Chris Dardenne took four traps for Lions, while Reece Alleyne stood out for the Recs with 12 runs and three traps. Artichoke A are third after a thrilling 2-1 victory at GKB. With the scores level after the opening two legs, GKB set 89 runs in the third to put them in pole position. But, Chokes’ Graham Snow had different ideas, hitting 53 runs from the No.2 spot, reaching the 90-run target with the help of Tom Hopkins’ 12 not out. Tom and dad Alan Hopkins helped themselves to five traps each. GKB put up a valiant battle with Andy Dixon hitting 42 runs and Lee Coombes taking four traps. Frog & Orange picked up their first points with a 2-1 success at Dove Inn B. Mick Long took three traps for the Frog. Market Inn A remain unbeaten in Division 1, Terry Richards hitting 28 runs, while Paul Cook and Lindsay Burden took three traps each for the Inn as they defeated Faversham Town FC 2-1. Jake Stebbards, with 39 runs, and Dave Miles, with five traps, were the star men for Town. Ten traps between Andy Gough, Richard Gough and Stuart Capper, along with 30 runs by Tonny Jenner helped Golden Lion B take the three points from Oare side Castle A. Market Inn B won 2- 0 at home to Castle B, while Dover Castle won 1- 0 at the Compasses in a game where the first two legs were tied. Division 2 leaders Two Brothers edged Evenhill Crusaders 2-1, with Paul Nicholson scoring 53 runs in the third leg and Kieran O’connor taking three traps. Red Lion B won 2-1 against Smugglers A, while Shipwrights Arms and Red Lion C drew. Kestrels lead Division 3 after a 2-1 away victory over Two Brewers B . Jack Fagg hit 30 out of his team’s 39 in the third leg. The Brewers’ Simon Ansell hit 20 runs in the second leg. Ian Rauchs’ three traps helped the Artichoke B in their 2- 0 home victory against Two Brewers A. Liam Mckeown starred with 21 runs for the Brewers. A 2-1 home victory for Huntsman and Horn against the Alma B kept them top in Division 4. Kings Head beat Herne Bay FC 2- 0 to remain in second spot.

In the Canterbury & District Ladies’ Bat & Trap League, teams competed in the first round matches of the Fremlins Cup. The Catholic Club beat Golden Lionesses 2-1 despite Jill Elderton and Elise Monks taking three traps each for the losers. In the third leg, Pauline Sibley, last batter for the Catholic Club, scored 18 not out to take the game. Ratling Club beat Ye Olde Beverlie 2-1 with Sarah Stevenson scoring 19 runs in the second leg for the winners and Louise Breen scoring 21 for the losers with teammate Lucy Abrahams taking three traps. Amanda Parsons and Sue Potts took two traps each to assist Market Inn in their 2- 0 victory over Golden Oldies, while Cheryl Collier and Stacey Jones did the same for Kings Head A in their 2- 0 victory over Castle B. Red Lion A had a 2- 0 win against the Artichoke, only needing to use their first batter, Christine Brabon, to take both legs. A singles competition was played at the Market Inn, Faversham. Most teams were represented but it was Sue Potts, from Market Inn, Stacey Jones from Kings Head A, Cheryl Collier also from Kings Head A and Lesley Eames from Golden Lion ladies who now go forward to battle for the title on finals night in August at the Red Lion, Dunkirk.