WOKINGHAM 1sts are one step closer to winning the Thames Valley League title, writes Dave Wright.

With every game falling foul to the wet weather on Saturday, the clear Division 1 leaders are now just six games away from promotion to the Home Counties Premier League.

Their points total of 228 points leaves them a healthy 31 ahead of second-placed Cove.

The Oaks did manage to start their game at Boyne Hill last weekend, making 58-2 in 18 overs.

The men out were Stuart Parsons for one and Danny Housego for five, both being caught by wicketkeeper Hamid Riaz off the bowling of Ziya Mohamed (2-15).

When rain forced the players off for good, skipper Stuart Hayter was left unbeaten on 39 off 59 balls and Archie Carter five.

This Saturday, the Oaks are home to fourth-placed Stoke Green and will be seeking revenge for the six-wicket defeat they suffered in the away game in May.

Finchampstead 2nds’ home match with Gerrards Cross was abandoned as they remain bottom of the Division 1 table with 100 points, 36 behind Henley 2nd, the other side currently in the relegation zone. The two stugglers meet at Henley this weekend.

In Division 2a, Eversley stay in seventh spot after their fixture at the third club, Kidmore End, had been called off without a ball bowled.

Kidmore are away to second-placed Kew this weekend.

Yateley, lying third from bottom of the table, and sixth-placed Royal Ascot did manage to make a start to their Division 2b encounter, with Yateley reaching 104-2 in 19 overs thanks to 47 not out from James Halson and 38 by Harry Maxfield.

No play was possible in the game between second-bottom Burnham 2nds and fifth-placed Hurst.

This coming Saturday, Hurst receive a visit from Aldershot, Yateley host Thatcham and Ascot head for Burnham.

Reading Chronicle:

The covers were on at Burnham last weekend for their abandoned game against Hurst.

Wokingham 2nds and Fleet didn’t see any action at Sadlers End, leaving the Oaks second in Division 3a on 191 points, 15 fewer than leaders Wargrave, but with a game in hand.

Purley-on-Thames, in third place, were put into bat by Chiswick & Whitton and had reached 62-2 off 15.2 overs before rain sent the players rushing to the pavilion, eventually leading to the game being abandoned.

Purley are home again this Saturday, when mid-table Cove 2nds are the visitors.

Theale & Tilehurst must have been grateful to see the rain, as they were in deep trouble against British Airways, losing their first five wickets with only 57 runs on the board in Division 4b.

They remain fourth in the table ahead of their trip to seventh-placed Cookham Dean 2nds this weekend.

Bracknell were able to make a start to their home Division 5b game with Maidenhead & Bray 2nds, with the visitors reaching 60-3 in 20 overs before heavy rain forced the players into the pavilion.

There was a wicket apiece for Imran Raja (1-23) and Rashid Afridi (1-25), while Anushka Jayamanne ran out opener Matt Allen.

The Larges Lane men main second from bottom of the table, needing to make up 16 points on the side immediately above them, Wargrave 2nds.

Wokingham 3rds also started their game away to Henley 3rds, making 108-2 off 23 overs.

They lost both openers with only six runs on the board before Jake Turner (60 off 58 balls) and James Stevens (39 off 61) were involved in an unbroken partnership of 102. 

This Saturday, it’s Wargave 2nds versus Bracknell and Wokingham 3rds take on Falkland 3rds at Sadlers End.

In Division 6b, Finchampstead 4th and Hurst 2nds will be hoping for a dry day so they can fulfil their fixtures at Yateley 3rds and Farnham Common 2nds respectively.

To say all 77 fixtures in the Thames Valley League were rained off on Saturday is not quite accurate as the Division 7a match between Wokingham 4ths and Thatcham 3rds had been already called off with the visitors forfeiting the game due to a lack of available players.

So Oaks received a 25 points and that healthy haul lifted them up to fifth in the Division 7a standings, a mere six points behind second placed Fleet 2nds.

In the same division, Theale & Tilehurst 2nds were able to make a start to their game at Fleet 2nds, reaching 60-1 off 17 overs before the wet stuff arrived from above. Micky Metha, with 25, and Imran Mahmood, six, were the not out batsmen after Arsian Ahmed had been caught for seven and Mohammed Jamil forced to retire hurt when on an unlucky 13.

T&T host Eversley 3rds this weekend, while Kidmore End 2nds take on host Wokingham 4ths.

In Division 8a, leaders Theale & Tilehurst 3rds’ fixture with Finchampstead 5ths were among those cancelled.

Reading 4ths are away to Finchampstead 5ths this Saturday and will be hoping that Julian Wood, the former Hampshire and Berkshire batsman will be available for selection along with his young son Hayden.