Big-hitting Ulph helps Leybourne beat rivals
Kent Regional League Kent County Village League
Leybourne picked up their most important win of the season last Saturday when they saw off promotion rivals Swanscombe & Greenhithe. A three-wicket win saw thirdplaced Leybourne close to within a point of Swanscombe in 1B West, with both clubs trying to stay in touch with leaders New Ash Green. Alex Rose picked up 4-58 as Leybourne dismissed their visitors for 149 before reaching 152-7 in 29.1 overs. Their successful run chase was thanks in no small part to Ashley Ulph, who hit 13 boundaries on his way to 67. Kings Hill are third in Champinship East after they won by 114 runs at Holcombe & Blue Bell Hill. Mohammed Cowdhury (41) and Nick McGeorge (45) helped Kings Hill to 205-8 and they bowled Holcombe out for just 91. One point better off and now 32 points behind leaders Mersham Sports are secondplaced Staplehurst, whose game at Sandwich Town 3rds was abandoned. Sam McConnel was 56 not out and his side 82-2 in reply to Sandwich’s 194 all out when rain stopped play. Snodland Community beat Gravesend 3rds by three wickets in 1A West. Jason Nye (6-19) helped dismiss Gravesend for 117 and Tom Wooding then scored an unbeaten 61 as third-placed Snodland edged to 121-7. Headcorn, third in 1A Central, had their game at Borstal cut short by the weather. Replying to Headcorn’s 149- 8, Borstal were 91-1 at the close. Having been dismissed for just 53 by Higham & Mockbeggar, Holborough Anchorians 3rds went on to lose their 1B Central clash by seven wickets. Bottom side Yalding were bowled out for 90 by Minster 3rds but the rain rescued them with the Sheppey side 52-3 after 15 overs. Hunton Wanderers are second after they beat Rainham 3rds by seven wickets at Lower Halstow. James Price picked up 4-24 as Rainham limped to 104-9 and Hunton needed just 17 overs to knock off the runs. In 2A East, Holborough Anchorians 2nds scored 223-7 at Deal & Victoria Barns Close 2nds and the home side reached 88-3 before play was abandoned. Leaders Leeds & Broomfield 2nds suffered a seven-wicket defeat at Walmer 2nds despite Rob Dixon scoring an unbeaten 64. Staplehurst 2nds are 30 points adrift at the bottom of 2B Central after their five-wicket defeat to Borstal 2nds, while The Mote 4ths lost a rain-reduced game against Belvedere 2nds by 25 runs. The top two met in 2C Central, with Lenham captain Adrian Longley (71) and Peter Humphries (73) helping their side to 220-5. But that wasn’t enough to stop leaders Rumwood, for whom Joe Millen (83) top scored in a three-wicket victory. Fourth-placed Headcorn 2nds (182) saw their game against New Ash Green 2nds (128-5) fall foul of the weather. Marden are ninth in Division 2 South after losing a close game against Leigh last Saturday. After their visitors had made 205-7, Marden closed their 40 overs on 195-8, just 10 runs short. Half-centuries from captain Richard Piper and Joe Martin helped Linton Park to a 158-run win over Limpsfield Chart in Division 6. Piper and Martin scored 83 and 77 respectively as Park made 257-9 before dismissing their hosts for just 99. Elsewhere in the division, Bearsted lost by five wickets against Outwood. Bearsted made 220-5, with Stephen Pearce hitting 41 off 34 balls but Outwood chased that score down in 36.1 overs. However, the efforts of Bill Norman (41) and Paul Baines (46) were not in vain for West Farleigh as they successfully defended 211-5 to beat Hadlow in Division 7. Hadlow’s run-chase lasted 30 overs before they were all out for 121.