Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Experience the difference
Kent League
Canterbury took a big step closer to promotion on Saturday with a hard-fought derby win over St Lawrence & Highland Court which has left their local rivals staring relegation in the face.
Experience has been a key word for both clubs this season.
St Lawrence’s lack of it has seen them lose too many close games, while Canterbury have made the most of theirs to open up a 20-point lead at the top with three games to play.
Saturday’s game was a microcosm of this – St Lawrence failing to bowl Canterbury out after reducing them to 92-5.
Replying to St Lawrence’s 200-5, Canterbury looked down and out but Paul Steer (68 not out) anchored the innings and priceless knocks from Justin Macvicar ( 22) and Charles Hartley (26 not out) got them home at 201-6.
Steer said: “It was just a case of holding it all together.
“The two players I batted with have been playing for Kent 2s, so they can hold a bat. That takes the pressure off you at the other end.
“The experience we have in our side probably saw us home. We didn’t outplay them; we just had a few more years and a few more games under our belt. We’re on a winning run and sometimes you don’t know how to lose.”
The opposite has been true for St Lawrence captain Lewis Jenkins, who side have only won three league games all season.
He said: “The bottom line is that we need to be winning and we’re not. We’re getting turned over by more experienced, stronger sides.
“As a captain, it’s not nice to turn up and lose but we just haven’t got the skill this year. We’ve got a young side and losing close games.
“We haven’t stopped believing we can get out of trouble but we’re coming up short every week.”
St Lawrence are 24 points off safety with three games left, while Canterbury’s destiny is now in their own hands.
Steer said: “We’ve got three games left and we’re 20 points clear at the top.
“Most people would take that. We’re confident but we’re respectful of the fact there are no easy games in Division 1.”
If Canterbury do go up, Whitstable will surely pass them on the way down. Their threewicket defeat to Blackheath on Saturday has left them 39 points adrift of safety in the Premier Division.
Chestfield’s promotion hopes were boosted when they beat Hythe by three wickets in Division 3. Neil Gowers hit 68 as his side successfully chased down 186 to leave themselves just eight points off the top-two. Macknade were bowled out for 144 against Rodmersham in Division 4 and they went on to lose by six wickets.
In the 2nd XI competition, Whitstable have been relegated from the Premier Division following their losing draw against Blackheath.
St Lawrence 2nds claimed a winning draw against Gore Court in Division 1 but they remain in the relegation places, 11 points from safety.
Promotion hopes were dented slightly for Canterbury 2nds when they had to settle for a losing draw against Upchurch in Division 2.
Canterbury sit second, with an eight-point gap to Folkestone in third.
Chestfield 2nds conspired to lose their Division 3 game at home to Hythe by eight wickets after declaring on 241-5.
And in Division 4, the top seven clubs are covered by just 26 points with three games left.
Macknade are down in sixth after losing to Rodmersham by 58 runs on Saturday.