BAT & TRAP: LOOMER STARS AS CRUSADERS HUMBLE TWO-TIME WINNERS IN FINAL

Division 2 side Evenhill Crusaders toppled two-time winners Artichoke A 2-0 in the Festival Cup final at the Red Lion.

Evenhill’s Shaun Loomer amassed 46 runs on the night with team-mate Dave Leavesley taking four traps to ensure the Crusaders represent the Canterbury & District League in the Invicta Cup against Medway.

In the first leg of the homeand- away clash, Evenhill hosted the Dancing Dog Saloon on Sunday, winning 3-0 on the day with leg scores of 34-19, 33-24 and 41-38.

In the last leg, they trapped No.8 Debbie Manwering just four short of the leg target.

She went on to take five traps on the day, while Clive Green’s 24 runs and Neil Whitcombe’s 26 helped Evenhill to victory.

Premiership leaders Golden Lion A lost their first league game, away to the Catholic Club for whom Paul Overy and Paul Marsh inflicted the damage with four traps each.

Second-placed Littlebourne Rec had a 2-0 success against GKB. Scott Elvidge hit 46 runs with team-mate James Edwards taking five traps.

Gentil Knyght C went down 2-1 at home to the Dove Inn B. Mike Quinnell hit 31 runs while team-mate Luke Digby hit 27 in the third leg. David O’sullivan was the Knyght’s star man with 23 runs and four traps.

In Division 1, just three points separate the top five places at the halfway stage.

Leaders Golden Lion B went down 2-1 at the Compasses, while second-placed Dover Castle won 2-0 at home to Market Inn A.

Castle B earned the bragging rights with a 2-1 win against their A team. The B team had Lee Rigden to thank with a 44-run haul, while team-mate Bob Mason took five traps and Lewis Gore four.

Castle A put up a valiant battle with Alan Spencley hitting 39 runs and Paul Coe taking four traps.

Market Inn B won 2-1 at home to bottom side Faversham Town FC. Two Brothers went down 2-1 to the Red Lion C in Division 2.

Second-placed Smugglers A lost 2-0 to their B side with Tom Hibbert and Shane Wilson taking three traps each. Red Lion B beat the Shipwright Arms 2-0 after the first leg was tied.

Division 3 leaders Kestrels continued their six- game unbeaten league run despite only having seven players.

Two players scored 34 of the Kestrels 46 first leg tally. Colin Burden got 20 and Dave Coombs 14, while teammate Andy Burden scored 17 runs in the second leg and took four traps on the night.

Callum Easton and Steve Bassett also weighed in with three traps each in the 2-0 defeat of Alma A. Artichoke B enjoyed a 2-1 win at Two Brewers B.

Jamie Challis hit 29 runs in the first leg for the Choke although Brewer’s Rob Richardson hit 20 runs in reply.

In Division 4, skipper Mark Lane hit a 31 not out to help the White Horse beat leaders Huntsman and Horn 2-0.