Cricket: Denbigh have title fate in their own hands

Sep 3 2008 By Dave Jones

DENBIGH 163 RHEWL 120-7

NORTH WALES LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

DENBIGH WINNING DRAW 9-8

PROMOTION chasing Denbigh will go into their final fixture of the season this Saturday at title rivals Llay Welfare knowing a victory should be enough to not only secure premier division cricket at Ystrad Road next year but also bring them the championship.

Any other result for Ben Wilcox-Jones’ men will likely mean they sit out the final weekend of the campaign awaiting their fate.

Denbigh could have sealed promotion at the weekend had they beaten Vale of Clwyd rivals Rhewl, but a winning draw leaves things less clear.

Wilcox-Jones’ side still lead division one on 320 points but have played a game more than Llay Welfare on 311, Chirk (299) and Northop (295).

The top four are all in opposition this Saturday with Llay entertaining Denbigh and Northop hosting Chirk.

As Denbigh complete their fixtures this weekend, the final Saturday of the season sees Llay visit Llangollen, Chirk play home to Rhewl and Northop travel to Marchwiel & Wrexham.

Last weekend’s derby saw the combatants facing a wet wicket and visiting skipper Gareth Morewood had no hesitation in asking the home side to bat first after calling the coin correctly.

This proved to be a correct decision as Denbigh were reduced to six for two from three overs, losing both openers and overseas player James Hobbs second ball of the match for a duck.

A solid partnership of 62 was then formed by Stuart Griffiths and skipper Wilcox-Jones. Griffiths batted well until Rob Eccles had him caught at slip for 36.

Eccles continued the fine form that has again seen him bowl over 80 maiden overs in the season, snaring three for 25 from his 13.

In conjunction with Duane Partelow and Jon Eccles also taking three wickets apiece, Denbigh were restricted to 163 all out in the 50th over of their innings.

The Rhewl reply was constantly pegged back by the home attack. When promising acceleration threatened the run-rate wickets fell.

Alex Gill (19), Ed Hurst (16), Chris Shone (15) all had starts and fell trying to increase the rate.

Jon Eccles batted throughout for 44 not out as the Vale side finished on 120 for seven, earning the second draw between the clubs this season.

Evergreen veteran Dave Schrimshaw took four for 23 for Denbigh.

After the game Rhewl skipper Morewood commented: "This was a typical derby fixture; both sides sparring for an advantage and in the end, neither managing to force a victory.

"We bowled well, but our out-fielding was poor and probably allowed them 20-30 runs too many.

"It was always going to be difficult chasing on the wicket, but with the regular loss of batsmen just as they started to get going we could never keep up with the rate.

"After two fixtures, two draws shows the quality of cricket in the area."