MP SPORTS CHERWELL LEAGUE

Match of the Day

Tiddington stayed right in the thick of the Division 2 promotion race by beating struggling Sandford St Martin on Saturday.

The number of promotion and relegation places will not be known until after the end of the season, as they are dependent on the which clubs are relegated from Division 2 West of the Home Counties Premier League.

In addition, the winners of the Cherwell League can decline promotion – and so deny one team in each of the other nine divisions the chance to go up.

So both Tiddington and Sandford have to assume the worst case scenario, which is that only one team will be promoted and two will go down from their division.

Tiddington soon asserted their credentials as Sam Hollingshead (6-73) made early inroads before Sandford’s innings was rescued by a 65-run partnership between Mark Robey and Alex Kill.

But both were run out trying to up the scoring rate and the hosts fell away to 169 all out.

Tiddington openers Sammy Thompson and Will Cooper put on 112 to put the result beyond doubt, though both survived chances behind the wicket before reaching 20.

Of the promotion chasers, Abingdon Vale have the easiest run-in as they play all four of the bottom four sides.

The relegation places – or place – are likely to be determined when Sandford, Aston Rowant 2nd and Banbury Twenty play each other.

Sandford 6pts, Tiddington 25