AJ Sports Surrey Championship 2024 – week 17 review

With just one round remaining, the fight at the top of the AJ Sports Surrey Championship Premier Division could barely be closer. Richard Spiller reviews the action on week 17

Ashtead v Reigate Priory

Leaders for much of the campaign, Reigate Priory came unstuck against the Premier Division's form team and now find themselves trailing by two points going into the final week.

They went down by two wickets at Ashtead, who have won four out of their last five games and sprinted up the table to fourth, with the opportunity of a top three spot.

Leading by 11 points at the start of the day Priory cruised to 288-2 from their 50 overs, skipper Richie Oliver batting through the innings for 108no from 141 balls. He was aided by Luke Haughton (39), James Crosthwaite – whose 71 contributed to a  second wicket stand of 133 – and George Ealham (45no) with 91 being taken off the final 10 overs.

Lacking Mark Stoneman on Middlesex duty, Ashtead slipped to 25-2 and when Conor Young (38) departed at 106-2 in the 23^rd over, it was hard to see beyond a Reigate victory.

Kiwi Simon Keene and Sussex-contracted Sean Hunt were reading a different script, a fifth wicket partnership of 121 in 13 overs transforming the match until Keene was bowled for a best-of-season 87 at 227-5 in the 36^th over. Hunt followed at 258-7, bowled by Michael Munday (2-49) in the 42^nd, but Jevan Kher (16no) edged the hosts towards victory and hit the winning runs with three balls to spare.

Priory, who took seven points, will have to rely on East Molesey slipping up at Sutton while they overcome Banstead.

East Molesey v Sunbury

Victory by 21 runs put East Molesey into pole position as they seek to reclaim the title last won three years ago.

To finish top in what they felt might be a transitional year would be a remarkable achievement, not least given they have been missing key seamer Andrew Westphal throughout as he recovers from knee surgery.

Sunbury, champions last year but having made an underwhelming defence, were ideal opponents and conceded 257-8 on their short hop over the Thames, Michael Shean's 90 the centrepiece of the innings with best support coming from Oliver Haley's 36. Kevin Smith claimed 3-51.

Sunbury's inconsistent batting once again let them down, sliding to 116-6 until a partial recovery led by skipper Rajan Soni (38). Smith's hard-hit 41 off 28 balls gave them an outside chance before being dismissed for 236 in the 48^th over. Toby Porter's 4-27 sees him remain leading wicket-taker in the Premier with 43 victims, taking the new ball with brother Harry who has spent much of the season overcoming back issues.

Guildford v Sutton

It was do or die for Guildford – and a 124-run defeat by Sutton sent them packing from the Premier Division, just a year after narrowly missing out on the title.

They started 20 points behind the visitors, the only side they could overtake to avoid joining Weybridge on the descent, but a team woefully short of form and confidence never looked like ending a dismal run of defeats.

Sutton's 240-8 was built around a stand of 118 for the third wicket between Fabian Cowdrey – whose 79 makes him the second highest Premier run scorer with 711, including four centuries – and Chris Swanson (51), Guildford's habit of dropping vital catches seeing them put down four chances.

The visitors looked to be disappearing out of sight until Olly Birts removed both men in short order, a slide to 203-8 only halted by Harry Gardner (22no) and George Jackson (19no) taking the initiative in the dying overs.

Jackson then took charge with the ball, dismissing Jacques Sharam and Oli Soames for a single apiece as Guildford slumped to 3-2 in another disastrous start. The burly seamer followed up by bowling Australian Jono Merlo, whose 648 runs made him fourth highest scorer and has been the side's only regular source of runs, for 14.

Only wicketkeeper Tom Geffen (47) survived for long but he was one of three victims for wrist-spinner Cowdrey, as the hosts were routed for 116 to send them down. They have taken just 36 points from the last eight matches, 11 of those from abandonments.

Sutton's return to the top tier has not been straightforward but they can take encouragement from survival.

Banstead v Wimbledon

The title might be beyond them now but Wimbledon can still finish in the top three following an 83-run victory over Banstead.

Tim Lloyd's 126 was key to the hosts recovering from 18-3 after choosing to bat, the tall right-hander's second century of the season seeing him hit nine fours and three sixes. A seventh wicket alliance worth 117 with Ed Cooper (65) ensured a total of 285-9, Mohammad Shahid's 3-47 including Lloyd.

Patrick Rowe's 42 was the best of the reply, which petered out to 202 all out, Ollie Pike and Charlie Whipple finishing with three wickets apiece.

Banstead could still claim a spot in the top half, survival in their first season since promotion a solid achievement for a young side.

Esher v Weybridge

A century from Stuart Van Der Merwe could not rescue Weybridge from a defeat which confirmed they will finish bottom of the table.

Already condemned to relegation two weeks earlier, they pushed Esher hard before losing by three wickets but can take some succour from improved displays in the final third of a difficult campaign.

Van Der Merwe has featured for Surrey's second team for much of the summer and turned out for Kent's last week. He hit 105 – 667 runs so far make the young left-hander the third highest scorer in the Premier Division – in dominating a second wicket stand worth 140 with Ben Way (52) as the visitors reached 252-8 in their 50 overs.

Esher were set on their way to victory, though, by openers Will Tavare (75) and Oliver Hunt (37) putting on 71, contributions from Don Bouchart (31) and Alex Chambers earning victory with 3.3 overs to spare.

That kept Esher in the top half but they need to win at Sunbury on Saturday to ensure they remain there.

Best of the rest

A speedy victory for Spencer all but sewed up the Division One title and gave neighbours Dulwich a helping hand along the way.

Frontrunners for much of the way, Gus Grant's men ended any hopes Cranleigh retained of an immediate return to the elite in a nine-wicket crushing. The hosts collapsed from 64-1 to be all out for 104, off-spinner Grant's 5-20 taking him to 43 wickets for the season so far, the fifth best in the entire league and second in Division One.

Hugo Darby's prolific season continued as he made 60no, enjoying an unbroken stand of 106 with Will Harris (36no) to finish off the match in 15.2 overs.

Dulwich had only needed two points to be certain of ending their long exile from the top division and took seven in a two-wicket defeat at Beddington, who could yet finish third – a very solid return after promotion.

All the focus in Division One now falls on the fight to avoid relegation. Old Wimbledonians are long gone but any one of three teams could join them. Walton's victory by 99 runs at Old Hamptonians has given them a chance of survival but they are still three points behind Valley End – who finish with a trip to Spencer – and another five adrift of Hamptonians, who conclude against Dulwich.

The top two take on each other in Division Two, Camberley all but certain of rising but with Oxted & Limpsfield having nipped in to second spot on the back of a 30-run victory at Old Rutlishians. Addiscombe and Farnham will slide the other way.

Maori Oxshott and SinjunGrammarians move up from Division Three, the former having leapfrogged the latter when they beat them by 30 runs on Saturday. Whitgiftians are down with Streatham & Marlborough likely to join them unless they can sneak past Dorking, who start 15 points in front.

Chertsey are already assured of the Division Four title, Old Emanuel now favourites to join them but with Trinity MidWhitgiftians still chasing. There's a three-way battle to avoid the drop between Woking & Horsell, Hampton Hill and Kempton.

Horley are almost certain to be joined heading up from Division Five by Alleyn while Old Paulines and Effingham fight to avoid going down alongside Churt & Hindhead.

League placings at week 17

Premier – top two: 1 East Molesey (244); 2 Reigate Priory (242). Bottom two – 9 Guildford (R) (132); 10 Weybridge (R) (96). Division 1 – top two:  1 Spencer (P) (262); 2 Dulwich (P) (246). Bottom two: 9 Walton (159); 10 Old Wimbledonians (R) (55). Division 2 – top two: 1 Camberley (251); 2 Oxted & Lmpsfld (241). Bottom two: 8 Addiscombe (R) (58); 9 Farnham (R) (52). Division 3 – top two: 1 Maori Oxshott (P) (238); 2 SinjunGrammarians (P) (234). Bottom two: 9 Streatham & Marlborough (R) (142); 10 Old Whitgiftians (R) (88). Division 4 – top two: 1 Chertsey (P) (241); 2 Old Emanuel (216). Bottom two: 9 Hampton Hill (134); 2 Kempton (133). Division 5 – top two: 1 Horley (P) (299); 2 Alleyn (249). Bottom two: 9 Paulines (145);10: Churt and Hindhead (R) (107).

Busy Moles

It's not just the Surrey Championship title which will be occupying East Molesey's attention next weekend.

Whatever happens on Saturday, they must immediately to turn their minds to Sunday's Conference Cup semi-final against Hornchurch, which was due to be played last month but delayed because of a problem with the watering system.

The winners of that match then head to Bexhill seven days later to take on Banstead in the final.

But the activity at Graburn Way doesn't stop in the winter and it's not just watching the boats go past.

Moles chair Sam Burge took charge of the café, which forms part of the pavilion, earlier this year and has now gone into partnership with former club captain Dominic Reed to set up HITZ Cricket, which will offer a state-of-the-art venue to train all year round. The first will be at their club, due to open later this year, allowing players of all abilities to tailor their training to suit specific skill levels utilising BatFast SmartPlay technology.

Reed aims to open another five sites before the end of next year, including another one in Surrey.