Lichfield take Staffs crown

Lichfield have been crowned the new Staffs Clubs champions - and immediately set their sights on Birmingham League survival.

But the City side were made to win the title the hard way after edging home at Bloxwich in a thriller.

Going into the weekend needing one win from their final two games Lichfield's champagne looked set to be put on ice when they slumped to 39-7 after bowling Bloxwich out for just 93.

But that reckoned with-out an impressive rearguard action from the Sarginson brothers, with Christian hitting an unbeaten 32 and Jamie 21 not out to guide their side home by three wickets and spark the celebrations.

"We are delighted," said captain Adam Braddock. "It was a real thriller. Christian and Jamie have both opened the batting for us in the past so we knew they could bat.

"But the pressure was on to try and wrap the title up before the start of the season and the lads responded really well to see us home.

"It sums our season up because whenever we've looked in a bit of trouble someone has always stepped up to the plate."

No one was happier to wrap the title up with a game to spare than Braddock who will miss Saturday's final game of the season against Whittington because he's due to attend a wedding.

That won't stop the rest of the side enjoying the celebrations as the club begins preparations for a return to the Birmingham League.

"It goes without saying I'm really proud of all the guys for what they have achieved," added Braddock.

"They have all put a lot of work in and got their rewards by winning promotion.

"Our first aim is to stay up and then go from there. That won't be easy when there are four teams who are relegated."

With the relegations of Whittington and Highcroft & Great Barr Unity confirmed, the main remaining battle is for second place.

Five teams are currently in the hunt, with sixth placed Beacon, who close their campaign with a winnable looking clash with Hammerwich, the outsiders after being beaten by eight wickets by Wednesbury.

Wednesbury, who easily reached 103-2 after dismissing Beacon for exactly 100, start the final weekend in second place but tied on points with Brewood in third.

But both can be caught by their opponents, with Wednesbury travelling to fifth placed Milford Hall and Cannock & Rugeley, in fourth, providing Brewood's opposition.

Brewood's fine run of late season form continued with an eight wicket victory over Whittington after bowling the bottom side out for just 129.

Captain Chris Guest was again in the wickets, claiming 4-36 to take his tally for the season to 44.

Rob Brewer led the charge with the bat, blasting 44 - a score which included just two singles - while teenagers Luke Bird and Aaron Prasher impressed. Bird, aged 14, stroked his way to 27 opening the batting for the first time, while 17-year-old Prasher hit an unbeaten 20.

"It was another nice win," said Guest. "We're finishing strongly and we've got a chance of finishing second.

"We always knew we could do it but when you're second bottom, like we were, you can't say so."

In contrast, Cannock & Rugeley's were on the end of a defeat by the same margin at the hands of Aldridge, who cruised past the home side's total of 217-8 with little trouble.

Nitin Mulhotra hit a century and Andy Roberts a half-century as Aldridge, who travel to relegated Highcroft, made 219-2 after Craig Mountford's four wickets helped restrict C&R to a chaseable total.

That win ensures fourth-from-bottom Aldridge won't finish in the bottom two, although whether or not a third side faces relegation may depend on the outcome of Pelsall's battle against the drop in the Birmingham League.

Milford Hall enjoyed the better of their high-scoring clash with third-from-bottom Hammerwich, clinching a winning draw by restricting the village side to 217-8 after earlier posting 232-8.

Elsewhere, an 110 from Mike Talbot helped confirm Highcroft's relegation as he helped Penkridge cruise a seven wicket win. Talbot was ably assisted by Ian Brown (51) as Penkridge comfortably reached 206-3 in reply to the Birmingham side's 202-8.