A MUCH weakened Woodmansterne 1st XI travelled to Haslemere on Saturday with nothing to play for, but Haslemere needed a win to give them any chance of an unlikely promotion.

Woods stand-in skipper Goodwin won the toss and elected to field in the hope that they could contain Haslemere to a chaseable total, or that Haslemere would declare early to give themselves the best chance to win.

That looked on the cards early on, as the promotion chasers raced to 161-3.

Woods did not help themselves putting down three chances in the slips. An inspired spell of bowling from Wells (6-92) dragged Haslemere back to 185-7.

Haslemere, however, chose to bat on, well beyond any score that Woods had made in the entire season, closing on 238-9 of 47.4 overs. Clement and Dudley both recording half-centuries.

Tight bowling early on, to a field with just four catching fielders, contained Woods, as Haslemere appeared to hope that scoreboard pressure would make Woods implode.

Opener Clisby (42) played the anchor role and a belligerent 70 from Hicks – despite fielders being placed on the boundary throughout his innings – helped Woods to at least secure batting points, as an increasingly frustrated Haslemere gave up attempting to induce wickets.

Woods 2nd XI produced a fine bowling performance to reduce Wallington to a total of 114 all out.

Chamberlayne's 5-33 was the outstanding performance as Woods recorded an eight-wicket win with Micky Joyce 60 not out.

The club's 3rd XI were defeated by Ripley, but could take plenty of positives from the game.

The batting of colts Simms (87) and Bunn (21) supported by Fraser (43) posted a good total of 207.

The home team reached their target of 208 for the loss of six wickets, with 6.5 overs to spare.

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