Just as they did last season, Frensham delivered the goods when it really mattered to win the I'Anson Cup in the competition's centenary year.

They beat an under-strength Fernhurst to retain the championship on Saturday, but it was their ability to win the big matches that was really behind their tenth title in 15 seasons.

Other teams can point to the fact that they were unlucky with abandoned games in this wettest of summers.

This was certainly true in the case of Grayshott who lost no fewer than six games to the weather. Tilford and The Bourne lost five, while relegated Chiddingfold missed out seven times, a victim of their own waterlogged pitch in the early weeks of the season. Frensham had four games abandoned.

It is also a strange fact that the four teams below Frensham all won more games, with third-placed Tilford having two more victories to their credit. The top three all lost twice.

Frensham played more games to a finish and were well ahead in bonus points. Skipper Richard Chuter was unlucky with the toss, but Frensham were often capable of winning when batting first.

The champions only went top at the start of September. Their battle-hardened side, so accustomed to success, grew stronger in the final run-in, while others fell by the wayside.

Grayshott, it seems, cannot make that final step. Having fought their way to the top after a poor start to the season, they suffered a damaging defeat at Frensham three weeks ago and, on Saturday, they lost to a weakened Tilford when they still had a chance of winning the cup.

Early front-runners The Bourne fell away at the halfway mark and Tilford, a strong bet for the championship a few weeks ago, saw their chances dip when they could only muster four points against Chiddingfold and Dogmersfield in successive weeks.

Puttenham did what they had to do on Saturday – take 10 points against Elstead – and they finish runners-up in an excellent first season in division one.

What a comedown for Chiddingfold. Champions two years ago, they finish bottom and go down with Elstead who, again, make an immediate return to division two.

The great escape artists are Dogmersfield. Seemingly doomed to relegation last month, they won three of their last four matches to survive.