CHURT were punished for an abject batting display and then numerous dropped catches as Haslemere won the local derby to go second in the Surrey Championship Division Five.

Churt remain top after suffering only their second loss of the campaign, but will have to pull their socks up to remain there.

The home batsmen should have been licking their lips when Haslemere skipper Lee Clement gambled on bowling first on a good-looking track.

And the gamble looked like backfiring as Will Hucker hit Chris May’s first over for 10 and then Ben Mitchell took 18 off Simon Eastment’s opening over: 28-0 after two overs.

Haslemere spread the field and Hucker promptly picked out Chris Spooner off the second ball of May’s next over.

It was poor shot selection and it set a pattern. Toby Finneran and Jon Palmer followed in quick succession and when overseas man Mitchell, having raced to 45, was caught in the deep, again by Spooner who was positioned for such a shot, Churt were 66-4 in the 11th over.

Only 13 more runs had been added when Ed Gyde hoiked across the line to a straight one from Sam Williams.

Off-spinner Williams was the most threatening of the bowlers, finding good flight, dip and accuracy in 12 near-perfect overs and returning a superb 4-18.

Skipper Daniel Higgins and Rowley Marshall set about a rebuilding mission and their partnership of 30 was the best of the innings. Then Williams bowled Marshall for 21 and Ian Leek was given out caught behind off Keaghan Cronin when the ball seemed to pinball off forearm and shoulder.

That was 122-7 and Cronin and Williams speedily cleaned up. Churt all out for 126 in the 39th over.

Ron Defreitas and Oli Plaistowe bowled well in their opening spells, but had dismal support in the field and Clement and Spooner were dropped no fewer than five times by keeper and slips in their decisive opening partnership of 70.

There were to be two more spilled catches later in the innings. By the time Mitchell trapped Spooner in front for 34, the visitors were well on their way.

Despite the odd ‘freebie’, Churt’s bowling was far and away the best of the three disciplines. Marshall did take three wickets, and Plaistowe one and Haslemere had a wobble as they went from 70-1 to 101-5, with Clement caught for 43 by Higgins.

But there were no further alarms and Eastment and Alex Hooker saw Haslemere to a deserved victory in the 42nd over.

This Saturday, Churt visit bottom side Old Emanuel, who will be buoyed by their win over high-riding Stoke D’Abernon. Haslemere travel to Alleyn.