ATHERSTONE TOWN duly confirmed their status in the Warwickshire Cricket League first division for next season after a convincing, nine-wicket win at home to Marston Green on Saturday. With the threat of relegation behind them, the team that has been supplemented by two Bermudians - Noel Gibbons, the player-coach from Bailey's Bay, and Ryan Steede, the medium-pace bowler from St. George's - can look forward to a finishing position as high as sixth after tomorrow's season finale at home to Griff & Coton.

"With the Thursday League title in the bag and given the problems we have had with player unavailability, that (sixth in the league) would be a good season for us," a relieved Gibbons said this week.

The former Bermuda all-rounder's concerns going into the penultimate match of the season were borne out of the form that Marston Green had been in during the past month as they strived to avoid relegation after a dreadful start. But the trip to Radcliffe Road was one journey too far as they managed only 117 after being sent in, Steede claiming three for 31 from six eventful overs. Atherstone, who knocked off the runs inside 21 overs with Gibbons not required to bat, moved into eighth place, nine points behind Nuneaton and Kenilworth, whose season has concluded. With a maximum haul tomorrow of 24 points, which can be attained only by a win after batting first, Atherstone can finish fifth, but Berkswell, who are 21 points clear, have two matches remaining.

"We haven't played badly all season," Gibbons reiterated. "It was just a matter of us not holding our catches. But on Saturday everything stuck; we moved it up a notch."

Further good news, albeit late given the anxieties of the past month at Atherstone, came in the form of a league ruling that only one team will be relegated, due to the withdrawal of Allens Cross early in the season. The promotion of two from Fillongley and either Bourneville or Sheldon Marlborough will restore the first division to 12 teams in 2003.

Down south in the Surrey Championship third division, Southern Railway were forced to settle for a seventh-place finish after a winning draw at home to Blackheath. Seventh is a spot lower than last year but Railway took small solace in a four-point improvement from 2001. At the end of the day, however, six wins out of 19, with ten draws, is not going to cut it when chasing promotion from a league where no quarter is given.

Blackheath made 205 for nine declared in 54 overs after being sent in and Railway responded with 173 for six in the 35 overs that were available. Yours Truly finished on a high note with 90, bowled in the final over attempting to hit the four and six required from the last two balls to reach a maiden century for the club.

The significance of the match was that it might be the last for the club in its present form. At an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) last Thursday the proposal to merge with Kenley, a struggling Surrey County League second division club, was accepted. Pending acceptance from Kenley's membership, we will be called Southern Railway & Kenley next season. The benefits of such a merger are many but, with Kenley's EGM scheduled for last night and too late for press time, we do not want to get ahead of ourselves.

Pyrford crowned promotion to the Surrey Championship by clinching the Surrey County League first division title after a nervy, two-wicket win Haslemere on Saturday. With Kingstonian trailing by 17 points going into the final weekend, the club that gave OJ Pitcher and Chris Foggo a foothold in English club cricket required only to earn five points. But they need not have agonised over the pursuit of 143 runs, as Kingstonian suffered their second loss of the season, by five wickets away to Marlborough (1870) to leave Pyrford runaway league winners by 32 points.

It is merely coincidental that the finishing touches to this week's offering were concluded on September 11, a date that will be entrenched in our minds and hearts for ever. And it is with great humility that I would like to wish the highest blessings to the families and loved ones of Rhondelle Tankard and Boyd Gatton, my former high school colleague.