Harpenden move clear at top

3:32pm Friday 18th June 2004

HARPENDEN CRICKET CLUB's aspirations of bouncing back to the Saracens Herts Division One at the first attempt received a further fillip on Saturday when they defeated Flitwick by six wickets in the top-of-the-table clash.

The victory leaves Harp 20 points clear of Northchurch at the head of the Division Two table, and they will make the short trip to Kings Langley on Saturday full of confidence after ending Flitwick's unbeaten record at The Common.

Ben Mahoney provided Harp with their inspiration on Saturday, taking eight wickets for just 40 runs to dismiss the visitors for a below-par 140.

Although Mick Brookes and Cassie van der Merwe put on 32 for the first wicket in reply, three lbw decisions and the dismissal of stand-in skipper Mike Howard saw Harp wobbling slightly at 99-4.

But Brookes, in partnership with Mike Davies, kept a cool head to see Harp home for the loss of no further wickets and post his highest score of the season with a fine unbeaten 60.

In the same division, Old Albanian continue to languish in the wrong half of the table after they were held by Hemel Hempstead second XI at the weekend.

Only a patient 70 from opener David Rourke staved off the threat of defeat for OAs who closed on 159-7 in an unlikely pursuit of Hemel's 237-4.

In the IC3 Home Counties Premier League Division Two East, St Albans remain rooted to the foot of the table after they returned with just three points from the trip to high-flying Welwyn Garden City.

Having seen the home side rack up a commanding 260-4 from their 59 overs Luke Edwards' men subsided to 155 all out in reply and, even at this early stage of the season, the visit of second from bottom St Margaretsbury on Saturday already has a must-win ring to it.