It's all rocky on the bottom
CRICKET ROUND-UP: Defeats send Falkland and Thatcham to the basement of their respective leagues
FALKLAND and Thatcham went to the bottom of their respective leagues after suffering heavy defeats on Saturday.
Falkland went down by eight wickets at Tring Park in Division One of the Home Counties Premier League and went back to the bottom spot they had occupied prior to last week's draw with Bishop's Stortford.
Skipper George Trewby opted to bat first, and despite losing Neil Gunter for seven with the total on 27, they were going well with Will Challoner and Hamza Riazuddin on top of the bowling in a stand of 109 before Challoner was trapped LBW for 82.
Riazuddin was next to fall for 51, and Falkland never really recovered as Bruce Martin and Khalid Zafar went for single figures, and Ollie Green, Theo Cooke and Mark Foster for 18, 12 and 12 respectively as the innings fell away under the onslaught from Park skipper Keith Dutch.
He took 6-60 as Falkland slumped from 152-2 to 206 all out in good batting conditions.
That was proven as openers Peter Handscombe and Leigh Tomlinson posted a stand of 98, Dutch making 22 and Mike Payne and unbeaten 36 as he and Handscomb (91 not out) put together a partnership of 70 as Park coasted home to 208-2 at the end of the 43rd over to send Falkland back to the foot of the table.
THATCHAM also find themselves propping up the rest in Division One of the Morrant Thames Valley League after their 15-run defeat at leaders Cove.
Cove rattled up 250-4 in 50 overs with Chris Benning making an unbeaten 71 and Simon Reed 54.
But Thatcham were again left depending upon Ali Naqvi, who kept his side in contention with his 102 before Andy Short (6-56) regained command and the visitors were all out for 235.
NEWBURY'S improved form took them into second place in the Morrant Thames Valley League Division Three A table after their seven-run win over Beaconsfield.
They owed much to Nick Ferguson's unbeaten 51 as Newbury posted an all-put total of 193 in 49 overs. It was a close-run thing, but Newbury dismissed the home side for 186 to take 25 points and leave themselves 13 behind leaders Yateley.
FALKLAND II swept into a challenging position in Division Two B with a 124-run win over Bagshot at Enborne Lodge.
There was little batting practice for the home side as Ryan Higgins and Jim Ettridge used up 45 overs to make 334-0 in an unbroken stand, Ettridge making 104 not out and Higgins going on to hit the 200 mark when the declaration came.
Richard Rowlett made 58 in response, but Falkland bowled out the visitors in the 43rd over for 210 and now stand third in the table.
KINGSCLERE'S poor start to their Hampshire League Four North campaign continued with a three wicket defeat to Alton. Youngster Ross Collington did his best to boost Kingsclere, scoring 53 as he took his side from 56-5 to 149 all out, but Alton eventually got home, despite a 4-30 spell from Rupert Hartley.
EAST WOODHAY are also looking to get off the mark after going down by 129 runs at Rotherwick ITW, who posted 246-6 in their overs before dismissing Woodhay for 117.
