The second half of the season started pretty much the same as the beginning of the season as heavy overnight rain and prolonged spells into Saturday put paid to a total of forty seven (50%) of planned matches, whilst the majority of others started late and became reduced over affairs.

In the Premier Divisiononly the match between Brockhampton 1^st XI and Bromsgrove 1^st XI was lost completely to the weather, whilst others were reduced by the rain.

Match of the day had to be the match played at Flagonners Green where bottom of the table Bromyard 1^st XI looked destined to suffer another defeat this time at the hands of visiting Redditch 1^st XI who at one stage in the second innings were three wickets down just twenty runs short of the first innings target. Then the all-important introduction of all-rounder Alex Woods (5-3) occurred, which led to an amazing turn of events as the last seven Redditch wickets fell for just sixteen runs to mean the home had scrapped home by just three runs, thanks largely to the ‘Bothamesque’ performance from Woods who produced the goods in a twenty ball spell that saw him take five wickets, for three runs including a hat trick that not only sealed a vital win against all odds, but also breathed life in to the fight for relegation at the bottom end of the table.

In other matches in the division, Stourbridge 1^st XI were able to move back in to second place after gaining a maximum points win in a rain shortened match against Worcester Nomads 1^st XI which helped them claw back eight points on both leaders Stourport-on-Severn 1^st XI who were forced to settle for a winning draw against Lye 1^st XI In a rain reduced match that saw the second innings close with the home team just three runs shy of the win at Walshes Farm Meadows and Pershore 1^st XI who took sixteen points from their winning draw in another rain reduced affair at the Bottoms against visiting Pedmore 1^st XI, which all means that just thirteen points separates the top three, and finally, Astwood Bank leapfrogged Redditch 1^st XI in to fifth by gaining a winning draw against Old Elizabethans 1^st XI in another match shortened by the poor weather.

Only two matches survived in Division One. Leaders Barnt Green 2^nd XI made the trip to Stewarts Road and walked away with a comfortable seven wicket win against Coombs Wood 1^st XI which enabled them to open up what could be a significant twenty nine point lead as all other matches featuring teams at the top were lost to the weather without a ball bowled.

The only other match to survive was the game between Bewdley 1^st XI and Burghill, Tillington & Weobley 1^st XI at Lower Park where Jack Mills (4-13) returned excellent first innings figures to help the home team dismiss the opposition cheaply which set up a welcome nine wicket maximum point win.

Division Two faired a little better as only the matches between Bromsgrove 2^nd XI and Bredon 1^st XI and leaders Netherton 1^st XI and Cookley 1^st XI were cancelled without a ball bowled.

In the matches that were contested, second placed Barnards Green 2^nd XI missed the chance to put a dent in Netherton 1^st XIs lead when they were forced to settle for a losing draw against Alvechurch & Hopwood 1^st XI who moved in to fourth place just four points behind Colwall 1^st XI who made most of the opportunity to close the gap to the promotion places to just one point after they recorded a maximum points win in a rain reduced game against Astwood Bank 2^nd XI at Sambourne Lane.

Elsewhere, Oldswinford 1^st XI moved into mid division after beating Kidderminster 2^nd XI by nine wickets at Albemarle Road and Belbroughton 1^st XI secured a winning draw against Enville 1^st XI who finished nine wickets down well short of the first innings target set.

Three matches were lost to the weather in Division Three, however leaders Netherton 2^nd XI were more fortunate than their 1^st XI as their match beat the weather for the most part which enabled Noman Waqar (98) to maintain his excellent early season form in the first innings which helped build a total that led to a winning draw against second placed Harborne 3^rd XI which in turn enabled Netherton 2^nd XI to extended their lead at the top to fifty five points. 

Third placed Lye 2^nd XI also got a game in against Feckenham 1^st XI but had to settle for a winning draw which closed the gap to Harborne 3^rd XI to a more challenging seventeen point margin and finally Himbleton 1^st XI stayed in touch with the leading pack as they were able to chase down Brockhampton 1^st XIs first innings total for the loss of just tree wickets at Harrow Lane.

In Division Four the top four teams (Worcester Nomads 2^nd XI, Droitwich Spa 2^nd XI, West Malvern and Hagley 2^nd XI) did not make a start which gave Claverley 1^st XI the chance to close the gap in fifth which they did when Tom Grainger (95) fell just five runs short of a first innings century to help post too many for visitors Stourbridge 2^nd XI to chase in the second innings as they eventually had to settle for the losing draw, whilst in the other match played in the division Aamir Khan (137) compiled an impressive first innings century Five Ways Old Edwardians 1^st XI which led to a winning draw against Old Hill 2^nd XI for whom Abu Saeed (114) scored a second innings century at Haden Hill.

In the win/lose divisions, Division Five leaders Tenbury Wells 1^st XI were beaten for the first time this season as they suffered a twelve run defeat at the hands of Pershore 2^nd XI who now sit just one point behind second placed Malvern 1^st XI who took full advantage pf this result by recording a four wicket win against Stourbridge 3^rd XI in the only other match played in the division at the Ramblers Ground.  As a result, the top three are now separated by twenty two points with the chasing pack led by Astwood Bank 3^rd XI a further twenty three points adrift.

It was a similar story in Division Six as leaders Himley 3^rd XI were one of three matches cancelled in the division due to the poor weather which gave second placed Harvington 1^st XI the chance to go top should they record a win, which they did when Chris Andrews (73) helped them chase down Claverley 2^nd XIs testing first innings total for the loss of four wickets at Anchor Lane. Whilst in other matches played in the division, Kidderminster 3^rd XI moved into third position, fourteen points behind Himley 3^rd XI when they beat Bromsgrove 3^rd XI by seven wickets in a rain reduced chase and after a particularly wet start to their campaign Cutnall Green 1^st XI made most of their good fortune as they were able to dodge the weather sufficiently enough to gain to secure a four wicket win against Old Vigornians 1^st XI at the Kings School.

In the Regional Divisions, top of the table Cookhill 1^st XI (who during the week became Carter Cup Champions) suffered their first defeat of the season in the Division Seven (North Group), a five wicket loss at the hands of Harborne 5h XI at Richmond Road. Second placed Old Elizabethans 3^rd XI took full advantage of this result and closed the gap at the top to less than a win by beating Feckenham 2^nd XI by seven wickets at Mill Lane, whilst in the only other match played in the division Himley 4^th XI beat Enville 2^nd XI by three wickets in a low scoring game to move further away from the danger zone at the bottom of the table.

In Division Seven (South), three matches succumbed to the weather and the match between Bartestree & Lugwardine and Birlingham 1^st XI resulted in a concession win for Bartestree. In the only matches played Rufus Darke (123*) top scored in the first innings for Burghill, Tillington & Weobley 2^nd XI who took full advantage of the situation and were able to steal a march at the top by beating Barnards Green 3^rd XI at the PAF Ground and third placed Ledbury 1^st XI were the other team to prosper on this wet day when they travelled to Spetchley Park to play Pershore 3^rd XI and walked away with a comfortable win thanks to contributions from Nick Gibbins (98*) in the first innings and Vicky Evans (6-16) which helped them leapfrog Rushwick 2^nd XI & Worcester Amigos 1^st XI in to second place. 

In the ten team Regional Division Eight groups, in the (North Group) the only two matches that survived the weather involved the top two. Lye 3^rd XI beat Stourbridge 4^th XI by eight wickets and second placed Netherton 3^rd XI maintained the status quo when they beat Old Hill 3^rd XI by forty eight runs in a rain shortened game which in turn allowed the top two to open up a seventeen point gap to third placed Harborne 6^th XI who front the chasing pack.

In the other Groups, Himbleton 2^nd XI opened up a twenty eight point lead at the top of the East Group when they beat Astwood Bank 4^th XI in the only match played.

In the South Group, leaders Hallow Taverners 1s XI beat Old Elizabethans 4^th XI by five wickets in the final over of the second innings and Charlie Clements (4-14) and Finlay Greaves (4-25) shared eight second innings wickets between them to help Colwall 3^rd XI beat Fownhope Strollers 1^st XI who have now slipped to third place after losing their last two matches, all other matches in the group were cancelled due to the wet conditions.

In the West Group only two matches were contested, Stourport-on-Severn 3^rd XI beat Highley 1^st XI by seven wickets and moved into second place above Alveley 1^st XI (who were cancelled) and Ed Corfield (97) helped Tenbury Wells 2^nd XI post what proved to be too many for Bewdley 3^rd XI to chase to seal their second win of the season. All other matches were cancelled without a ball bowled.

As we now begin the countdown to the Division Eight Play Offs, please see what the list of qualifiers and Quarters-Final matches would look like after matches played on Saturday 6^th July 2024;

1.Lye 3^rd XI                             187 Pts/10      = 18.70 (Average Points Per Game)

2. Hallow Taverners 1ts XI      179 Pts/10      = 17.67 (APPG)

3. Goodrich 1^st XI                       158 Pts/9        = 17.56 (APPG)

4. Himbleton CC 2^nd XI                        172 Pts/10      = 17.20 (APPG)

5. Netherton CC 3^rd XI                     172 Pts/10           = 17.20 (APPG)

6. Droitwich Spa CC 3^rd XI       170 Pts/10      = 17.00 (APPG)

7. Builth Wells CC 1^st XI                   150 Pts/9             = 16.67 (APPG)

8. Harborne CC 6^th XI                       155 Pts/10           = 15.50 (APPG)

9. Brockhampton 3^rd XI                   152 Pts/10           = 15.20 (APPG) - 1^st Reserve

10. Fownhope Strollers 1^st XI         147.Pts/10           = 14.70 (APPG) - 2^nd Reserve        

Quarter Final Ties

Lye CC 3^rd XI                                      v             Harborne CC 6^th XII           

Hallow Taverners CC 1^st XI             v             Builth Wells CC 1^st XI                       

Goodrich CC 1^st XI                            v             Droitwich Spa CC 3^rd XI

Himbleton CC 2^nd XI                         v             Netherton CC 3^rd XI                                        

Regional Division Nine North & South Groups suffered the most match cancellations as only one match was contested in the North Groupat the Howard Brazil Memorial Ground where Harvey Phillips (5-23) helped Cookhill 2^nd XI extended their lead at the top of the table to sixteen points after his first innings return helped the home team beat Hagley 4^th XI by just one wicket.

Goodrich 1^st XI maintained their eight point lead at the top of Marches Division Oneafter recording a six wicket win against Kington 1^st XI as Builth Wells 1^st XI kept up with the pace with a wide margin win against Luctonians 1^st XI. Paul Williams (106*) scored an undefeated second innings century to help Garnons 1^st XI stay in touch in third and Ross-on-Wye 1^st XI beat Dales 1^st XI in the basement battle.

In Marches Division Two, Gareth Grant (117 & 4-19) scored his third century in as many weeks in helping leaders Hay-on-Wye 1^st XI maintain top spot with an eighty eight run win against visiting Presteigne CC. Almeley 1^st XI lost ground on the leaders despite tying a low scoring thriller against Woolhope 2^nd XI. Sam Charles (135) helped Moccas 1^st XI maintain their challenge after posting a first innings century that helped gain maximum points against visiting Built Wells 2^nd XI whilst the other match in the division was cancelled due to the wet conditions.

In Marches Division Three, Goodrich 2^nd XI continue to lead the way, twenty six points ahead of their nearest challengers after Lee Harrington (103*) scored an undefeated second innings century to help secure a nine wicket win in a rain shortened match in the only match played in the division as second placed Bartestree & Lugwardine enjoyed a free week,

Stuart Lampitt