CHURT, with promotion already secured, aimed to clinch the championship on Saturday, but the elements conspired against them and Haslemere won a rain-reduced game to complete the double over their local rivals and revive their own hopes of going up.

On a wet and blustery day high in the hills of Haslemere, Churt were inserted by Leigh Thayre and openers Will Hucker and Ed Gyde shared a steady stand of 41 which was interrupted by the first of two rain breaks.

Because the match began on time, any interruption meant that Churt could bat their full 50 overs and, to constitute a match, Haslemere would have to receive at least 20 overs back. Sixteen overs were lost in all, meaning that Haslemere would be left with a maximum of 26 overs.

Any further delay would almost certainly result in the match being abandoned.

After two interruptions, Churt were approaching 100 with only two wickets down and Tony Finneran and Ben Mitchell going well.

Even though an abandonment would have given them four points, leaving just three required from the last two matches for the title, Churt agreed to continue on a very wet wicket.

Wickets fell to Chris Spooner and Keighan Cronin as Churt tried to lift a sluggish run-rate. Pete Dudley was excellent behind the wicket, pulling off two sharp stumpings, while Alex Hooker was unlucky to finish wicketless after a good spell of spin.

Churt finally mustered 167-9 from the 50 overs and Haslemere’s reduced target was 112 from 26 overs.

Oli Plaistowe quickly had Spooner caught in the slips and he and Dave Thomas made life very difficult for the batsmen.

Promising youngster Scott Boxall then played a vital innings as Ronnie Defreitas wreaked havoc, removing Dudley, Simon Eastment and Chris Sturt for the addition of only eight runs. And when Defreitas had Boxall caught for 41, Haslemere were in deep trouble at 69-6.

With the game in the balance, Hooker and Cronin came together in a match-winning stand. Cronin’s two sixes off Mitchell tipped the balance and Haslemere got home with an over to spare.

It had been a tense encounter and the final unbroken partnership of 44 was not without controversy, Churt believing it should have been ended by a run-out and then an lbw appeal that at first appeared to have been given.

Churt travel to Chertsey this Saturday and end the season with a home match against Kempton on September 3.

Haslemere chase their promotion dream with away matches against Old Emanuel and Maori Oxshott.