Mavs are far too strong for Pumas

American football SMITH SCORES 80 IN FIRST LEG TO HELP GKB EASE INTO SKAM CUP SEMI-FINALS WITH CONVINCING VICTORY

Previous winners Artichoke A suffered a shock exit against Division 2 side Smugglers B, losing 2-0 in the quarter-finals of the Skam Cup.

GKB were in a rampant mood with a crushing 147-9 first leg score in their 2-0 victory over Two Brewers B.

Defending singles champion Ben Smith hit 80 runs in the first leg and 11 in the second along with two traps in six bowls to be man-of-the-match.

Team-mate Lee Coombes hit 33 runs in the first leg and a six not out in the second by Andy Dixon along with three traps in just five bowls, also stood out.

Golden Lion A beat the Kestrels 2-0, with leg scores of 59-17 and 16-15. Lion’s Raulf Martin hit 26 runs and Andy Minter 20 while Ian Raby Jnr helped himself to four traps. Colin Burden replied with five traps for the Kestrels.

Division 4’s Huntsman and Horn complete the semi-final line-up with a 2-1 win over Castle A of Division 1.

In the Skam Plate Preliminary round, Faversham Town FC beat the Dove Inn A 2-1 with two players hitting 10 traps between them. Jack Stebbards hit six and Steve Coleman four.

Market Inn A beat Golden Lion B 2-1 with Ian Dennett scoring 33 runs in the second leg and team-mate Brian Underwood hitting 22 in the third leg for the Inn. Lion’s Tony Jenner helped himself to 66 runs in the first leg and took five traps.

In an all Premiership clash, Littlebourne Rec won via a bowl out after a 1-1 draw with Catholic Club.

Three traps each by James Edwards and Scott Elvidge along with Colin Firth’s 38 runs made the difference for the Rec. There were 2-0 victories for Red Lion B, Castle B and Market Inn B over Two Brothers, Alma A and Kings Head respectively.

Smugglers A completed the last eight with a 2-0 win over Artichoke B, with Mark Gammon (29 runs) and Dave Creasey (three traps) the star men.

In the fours semis and final, the Alma A2 pulled out which left three teams to play a round-robin.

Golden Lion A saw off GKB1 2-1 in a close game. Lee Coombes was GKB’S top run scorer with 32 runs while Ben Smith took four traps. Lion’s Dan Boden hit 33 runs and hit the trap five traps, as did Andy Minter.

Kestrels overcame GKB 2-1, although the final leg saw GKB1 bowl Kestrels out for just five runs.

Kestrels somehow bowled GKB1 out East Kent Mavericks remain on course for a post-season berth in the BAFA Southern Conference 2 after another convincing win. The Mavericks ran riot against reformed neighbours Maidstone Pumas to register a 67-0 win at the Simon Langton Boys Grammar School on Sunday and if the season ended today would be crowned third seed and face a home tie against Bristol Apache in the first round of the play-offs. It took EK little time to open up a 14-0 first-quarter lead but that advantage had stretched to 47-0 by half-time with QB Mark Hughes running in two scores, Sam Northwood registering his first Mavs TD and David Mugo doing likewise soon after. Lineman Aidan Lo also forced a fumble which was recovered in the end-zone by linebacker Jamie Griffiths while another interception by John Ellender couldn’t quite for four to take the game. Alan Howlett top scored with 11 runs including eight not out in the second leg, while Callum Easton took five traps for the Kestrels.

GKB’S top trapper was Steve Smith with four in 10 bowls while Lee Coombes hit 18 runs.

The final saw Golden Lion A’s Andy Minter hit 14 runs against Kestrels and Dan Boden completed the first leg with six not out. The second leg was completed by landlord Colin Robson who hit the winning five not out to take game and the title.

Castle B beat Haywain 2-0 to retain top spot in Division 1 of the Canterbury & District Ladies League.

Diane Calvert scored 21 runs in the second leg for the winners. Tina Britton and Val Nightingale took three traps each for the losers. An impressive six be turned into a score before time expired at the half. Dan Symons caught the first TD pass of the second half and Hughes ran in another score to make it 61-0 before Lucas Deveson scored his second TD to seal the win, having scored two in his debut appearance in the big win over Hastings two weeks earlier. It was a seventh win in eight for the Mavericks who have two regular season games remaining. First Mavs face a testing trip to the Berkshire Renegades on August 7 before completing the regular season at Bournemouth Bobcats the week after. The play-off quarter and semi-finals follow in the next two weeks with the play-off final set for September 11. traps from Cheryl Collier couldn’t stop Kings Head A going 2-0 down to Ratling Club.

Sue Pott hit 26 runs in the first and took four traps to help Market Inn beat Golden Oldies 2-1 despite Margit Symes taking four traps for the Oldies.

Golden Lion beat Castle A 2-0 with Jean Neaverson scoring 22 runs to help take the first leg and Jenny Kersley 23 not out to take the second.

Division 2 leaders Kings Head B beat Ye Olde Beverlie 2-0 with Trish Dawkins scoring an impressive 46 runs.

This week also saw teams competing in the semi-finals of the Fremlins Cup.

Catholic Club beat Castle A 2-0 while Ratling Club overcame Golden Lion ladies 2-0 with Julie Heslop starting the game with an impressive 40 runs for Ratling.