Sully went into the last weekend with their fate out of their hands and hoping leaders West Reading slipped up for the second year in a row.

Their wishes were granted as they beat BCS Grosvenor by 27 runs and West Reading lost by 49 runs to Woodcote, much to the delight of Sulhamstead chairman Peter Towndrow.

“This has been our best year ever on the field, with the 2nds and 3rds also doing well in their respective divisions, both just missing out on promotion on the last day of the league season,” he said.

“The excellent relationship between our senior and junior teams was emphasised this weekend, when 19 of the players in our top two league sides were the product of our Colts system, and we are justifiably very proud of our vibrant junior section.

“We have come a long way in the 25 years since we took the decision to replace our ancient wooden changing hut with a new pavilion and we are already looking forward to defending our title next season.”

After electing to bat first, Sully reached 199-7 from 45 overs, with Tristan Evans (60), Jamie Seward (38) and Aaron Briggs (29) all making notable contributions.

Only three Grosvenor batsmen reached double figures in the reply but at 138-4 the game was still in the balance.

Fortunately for Sully they took the next six wickets for just 33 runs to seal victory.

Marc Thompson (3-29) was the pick of the bowlers while Ian Williams and Doug MacDonald both took two wickets.

And the celebrations started when Sully found the result at Woodcote, where the hosts beat West Reading.

The prospects looked good for West Reading as they bowled the home team out relatively cheaply in 40 overs.

Paul Knox (50) batted well to reach yet another half century and Rhod James (30) and Steve Henderson (21) both scored useful runs before an all too familiar batting collapse saw them dismissed for 155.

But West Reading were soon in trouble against the slow bowling of Will Macdonald (2-17) and James Worsfold (1-40).

The visitors lost four wickets before reaching 50 and were finished off by Zaf Akram (3-10) and Knox (3-37).

Elsewhere, South East Reading ended their season with a two-wicket win over Woodley in a high-scoring clash.

Taalish Khan (88) and Santosh Mahagaonkar (42) got the majority of the runs as Woodley were bowled out for 247.

Mark Barney took five wickets in the reply but Jibraan Naame (73*) and Zaffer Ali (68) saw Reading home.

Mortimer West End beat Checkendon by 71 runs, with Ken Allsobrook taking 4-16 as basement side Checkendon were dismissed for 114.

Relegated Stoke Row claimed a consolation 43-run win against Peppard.

Roy Hayden took his 40th wicket of the campaign when Sam Fletcher was stumped as the visitors gained an early breakthrough.

Brothers Wynand and Charles Lamprecht took control of the game for Stoke before the latter was trapped lbw by Ian Jackson to leave Row 76-2.

Jackson – who also reached 40 wickets – and teenage off-spinner Ashley Hayden swung the game back towards Peppard as the latter ended up with career-best figures of 6-43.

Wynand Lamprecht was the eighth man out for an ultimately match-winning 72 as The Falcons were dismissed for 155.

In reply Michael Chard was run out and Marcus Peedell was clean bowled by Charles Lamprecht to leave Peppard in early strife.

Phil Duncan then brilliantly caught Sam Fooks off the bowling of 15-year-old Chris Humphreys, who claimed 1-40 in 15 overs.

The irrepressible Andy Watts remained unmoved at the other end as he eased to an eighth half-century of the season, but when he was bowled by Dion Sampson, Row powered to victory.

Wynand Lamprecht (3-13) and Matt Hopper (3-13) – aided by a sensational diving slip catch by Richard Ashton – ran through the tail as the visitors

were 112 all out.

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