Hughes warning for table toppers
Wombourne's Liam Hughes has warned his team they "still have it all to do" after his table-topping side chalked up win number nine of the season.
Wombourne's Liam Hughes has warned his team they "still have it all to do" after his table-topping side chalked up win number nine of the season.
Skipper Hughes saw his young charges extend their lead at the top of the table to 38-points following an impressive victory over Lichfield.
Yet while some of his nearest rivals are prediting end of season glory for Wombourne, he is refusing to get carried away.
He said: "There is still along way to go and we still have it all to do. We haven't reached the half-way point of the season yet and I am not counting anything as a given.
"We have started well and now we have to maintain that."
Alex Hughes (67) led the victory charge last weekend with Matt Branch (43) and John Tratt (37) offering good support before Ben Shorter finished the game in style with three successive sixes.
Lichfield skipper Adam Braddock has conceded it looks like being a battle for second place after his side fell victim to the in-form leaders.
Braddock's men slipped to a four wicket defeat in the top of the table clash – a setback that leaves them lying fourth, 51 points adrift.
He said "Wombourne are looking good at the moment.
"They are the strongest side we have faced and I think they will go on and win the league.
"It's probably now looking like a battle for second place and hopefully we will be in that shake-up."
Braddock was left ruing a series of chances that went begging as Wombourne overhauled his side's total of 230-8 – a score built around a superb century from Dean Price.
Braddock said: "They made less mistakes than us. We dropped three catches and gave away 27 extras, they didn't drop a catch and gave away just four extras. Things like that are crucial in close games.
"They are a very young side, but they chased down the total really well and held their nerve."
There were some plus points for Braddock as he prepares for Saturday's clash with Whitchurch, most notably the form of Price and Peter Woodfield, who struck an unbeaten half century.
"Dean has been missing for a couple of weeks and it was good to have him back.
"He has been in really good form this season and he batted very well. Peter is also in good form."
Second bottom Fordhouses face a crunch clash with basement side Oswestry on Saturday.
Fordhouses shape up for the strugglers having seen their two-match winning streak grind to an abrupt halt after a 138-run defeat by Brockhampton last week.
Captain Russell Thompson said: "It's a big game for us and yes, it could have a bearing on the end of the season.
"We should be quite strong so hopefully we can make that count. Relegation battle? It could be, but there's still 13 games to go.
"But a victory will certainly help either side. We've just got to get on with it."
