Secretary: Gary France

Cuckney, who finished just one point behind the 2006 Champions, Killamarsh, in 2007 made certain of the Division One title and promotion to the Premier League by obtaining a 59 point advantage over runners-up Kiveton Park. Thoresby Colliery, who had been relegated from the Premier after the 2006 season, had an indifferent return to Bassetlaw cricket, ending in seventh place. Ransome & Marles, winners of the Second Division in 2006, found life at the top daunting though it wasn’t until the closing stages of 2007 that they landed at the foot of the table and thus return whence they came. Worksop had a dreadful first half of 2007 – not helped when their ground was flooded to a depth of three feet – but a late surge at least avoided the wooden spoon.

In Division Two, Edwinstowe came out on top and thus return to the top Division after one summer’s absence, though their place as Division Two Champions was a hard fought battle with Waleswood, who led the way for some weeks. Notts & Arnold Amateurs 2nds suffered the embarrassment of footing Division Two in 2006 and securing the same place in Division Three for 2007. There was an exciting race for the Division Three title; in the end both Welbeck Colliery 2nds and West Indian Cavaliers 2nd finished level on points with 292 each.

The outstanding batsman of the summer was the young Australian, Tom Elliott who hit no less than nine hundreds for Notts & Arnold; Rashid Riaz and Richard Stroh were also very successful, the latter was in addition no mean bowler for Cuckney. Despite the inclement weather batsman dominated the matches. To show how much bowlers suffered it is only necessary to go back in 2002 – if my calculations are correct, in the season 74 instances occurred of bowlers taking seven or more wickets in an innings. In 2007 there were just 16 examples!

A brief run through the Division One results of 2007 shows that Bolsover, Cuckney, Kiveton Park and Thoresby all secured maximum points on the opening day. On the second Saturday, Cuckney took a clear lead by acquiring another 20 points, by beating Notts & Arnold by six wickets.

The sensation of May 12 was Bolsover’s humiliation of Worksop. Bolsover scored 261 for nine, then Mohsim Ali took eight for 29 as Worksop were bundled out for 50 – defeat by 211 runs. After four matches had taken place, Cuckney had gathered 79 out of a possible 80 points and were clearly showing their determination to stay out in front, but in fact their lead was still a slender 3 points, as Kiveton Park kept winning. Bolsover were in third place. Worksop languished at the wrong end with a mere 16 points.

After the matches on May 26 the positions at the top remained unchanged – Cuckney had a winning draw versus Worksop and now have 113 points. Kiveton Park are eight points adrift, their game with Farnsfield being abruptly halted by rain. In Division Two Waleswood and Eckington are one point apart at the table’s head. Clumber Park have a 22 point lead in Division Three.

The first matches of June saw Cuckney overwhelm Ransome & Marles by 182 runs – Richard Stroh hit 80* and Will Butler 95; Steve Randall, the old Notts spinner then took four for 21. Kiveton Park beat Notts & Arnold with Ian Hampshire hitting 116*.

On June 16 only one match escaped the rain in Division One – Kiveton Park beat Ransome & Marles  and moved five points ahead of Cuckney. The rain continued to cause chaos on June 23 and June 30, but by the month’s end the leaders in Division One were Cuckney (181 pts), Kiveton Park(172), Bolsover (161). Worksop were still without an outright victory.

The two front runners met at Stone Park on July 7. Kiveton were dismissed for 112 of which Sri Lankan Harsha Cooray made 45, but, surprising Cuckney fell apart, all out 68 with Mick Godber taking six for 21. Cuckney made up some ground the following Saturday picking up 20 points, whilst Kiveton were content with a winning draw. The last Saturday of July saw Cuckney beat Kiveton and take the lead – a lead which they were destined to retain over the final weeks of the season. Cuckney made certain of the title when they hit 433 for two v Ransome & Marles – Richard Stroh hit 209* and Will Butler 115. Henno Jordaan responded with 163*, but he couldn’t prevent Cuckney’s victory. On September 1, Will Butler hit 139* for Cuckney to give the side a win over Bridon, further emphasising  Cuckney’s right to the title.