Haslemere saved their best performance of the season for the last league game and so ensured first division cricket for next season.

Ironically, it was against a Ripley side who finished in second place. Indeed, had Ripley won, they could have finished top.

Haslemere's hero was Kevin Gray who followed an innings of 50 with spectacular bowling figures of 7 for 24 from eight overs.

Put in to bat in this crunch match, Haslemere started badly, losing three cheap wickets to Giles, and it was not until Gray was joined by Andy Hastilow that the runs started to flow.

Gray completed a valuable half-century, while Hastilow went on to a hard-hitting 44.

Graham Boxall and all the tailenders chipped in with valuable runs and Haslemere were able to declare on a very respectable 196-9.

Ripley began strongly and at 92-1, with Butterworth (50) going well, seemed likely to cruise to a comfortable win.

However, Gray had been brought on first change and he made the breakthrough, thanks to a brilliant catch by Graham Boxall.

Wickets then tumbled to Gray who, at one stage, had taken six without conceding a run and performed the hat-trick.

His brilliant spell of medium-fast bowling saw a bewildered Ripley all out for 115.

Gray was undoubtedly the man of the match, while Ripley had the consolation of still winning promotion to the Surrey Championship.

If Haslemere had produced this sort of form earlier in the season, they would never have had to worry about relegation.

They ended with four wins and one draw in a season when they constantly under- achieved.

HASLEMERE

K Gray b Christianson 50

K Hooker c Butterworth b Giles 0

L Clement c Butterworth b Giles 5

A Tull b Giles 9

A Hastilow c Butterworth b Zapp 44

J Clement b Christianson 7

G Boxall lbw Managei 22

D Reid st King b Managei 17

P Dempsey c Butterworth b Zapp 10

D Boxall not out 15

J Macaulay not out 1

Extras 16

––

Total(for 9 wkts dec) 196

––

Bowling: A Giles 3-18, R Zapp 2-17, T Managei 2-56, G Christianson 2-71.

RIPLEY

P Butterworth c Hastilow b G Boxall 50

I Turvey c Hastilow b Gray 17

T Managei c G Boxall b Gray 23

N Hackney lbw D Boxall 13

J Primmett lbw Gray 0

G Christianson b Gray 0

R Zapp b Gray 0

A King c Hooker b Gray 0

I Dunn c Hooker b Gray 8

A Parker not out 1

A Giles b D Boxall 0

Extras 3

––

Total 115

––

Bowling: K Gray 7-24, D Boxall 2-10.