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SPCL3 - Watts leading New Milton to impressive start
Mike Vimpany (as produced in the Southern Daily Echo) - 20 June 2002
Steve Watts hasn't sprouted too many grey hairs, but if New Milton put him through any more close finishes he'll soon be reaching for the Grecian 2000.
Watts has led youthful New Milton into a handy fourth place in Premier Division 3, 13 points behind leaders Purbrook.
"But it's been a case of defending low totals in the last couple of games," he says. "We beat Gosport Borough by seven runs, and Redlynch & Hale by a 19-run margin in a low scoring game."
New Milton, whose pre-season ambition was to secure a comfortable mid-table berth, owed much to fifth-wicket pair Nick Gargaro (41) and Steve Taylor (29), who repaired the damage of 20-4 inflicted by Redlynch seamer Steve Fox (3-14).
Their fight back enabled Milton to reach 113 before Watts let loose his five-man attack to bowl Redlynch out for 94, Andy Snellgrove taking 3-17.
"We've got a pretty young side here and the lads were tremendous in character once again showing their strength in the bowling department.
"At tea, they were confident in defending 113 and proved themselves right again," praised the captain.
New Milton certainly aren't getting carried away, but the sight of Purbrook and Alton losing their respective unbeaten records has made things interesting at the top.
It's also enhanced pre-season predictions that St Cross Symondians would come out on top - a storming eight-wicket win at Hartley Wintney taking Matt Perry-Lewis's team to within two points of Purbrook, who lost at Bashley.
Matt Digweed's 104 led Hartley Wintney to 206-7 (Stuart Charman 3-34), but once burly Steve Shaw (85) and Ben Adams (53 not out) got into their stride, the outcome was inevitable.
Bashley (Rydal) II upset the apple cart with Neil Sexton and Chris Gates influential in inflicting a first defeat of the season on leaders Purbrook.
The previously undefeated leaders appeared to have batted themselves into a powerful position at 226-8 (Bob Paul 3-45) on the strength of half-centuries by South African Will Prozesky (57) and Ian Hunter (52).
Bashley had reached 105-4 when Gates (53) and Sexton, with a match-winning 65, came together.
The pair added a crucial 73 in quick time, with Sexton's powerful cover-drives leading Bashley to a unexpected three-wicket win off the first ball of the final over.
Alton knew they would have to improve on last week's disappointing performance against Flamingo if they were to threaten St Cross Symondians this afternoon.
Flamingo suffered their customary top-order blip, but rallied to reach 159-8 with man of the moment Adie Heath (34) leading a rearguard action prompted by Tim Richman (26), Kevin Brewster, Dave Breach and Saints footballer Jason Dodd.
It looked all up over when Nick McMurray (4-33) and Stu Shapland (2-33) plunged Alton into the abyss of 57-7.
A rain break gave Howard Gadsby (33) and gritty teenager Mark Heffernan (32) time to regroup and add a precious 66 before Flamingo broke through again to bowl Alton out for 127.
"We would have won it far easier but for the rain," predicted Flamingo skipper Shapland.
"We need some confidence in our top order batting, but the way we've battled to win four games is a testament to the team spirit in the dressing room."
The win put Flamingo's into fifth spot - the highest position they've ever achieved in the Hampshire pyramid - just ahead of Hursley Park, whose home match with Portsmouth II was a wet weather victim.
Havant II continue to blow hot and cold, with skipper Matt Gover never quite knowing what his talented side are liable to produce.
"The lads did the business at Hook & Newnham, scoring 246-7 and then bowling them out for 130," he said.
"If Simon Greenfield (65) and JJ Owen (48) get us away to a good start, then we normally perform - and that's what happened at Hook." Matt Ward (32) and Ollie Jones (26) chipped in as Havant built an unassailable total.
Only South African youngster Lloyd Moore (41) scrapped it out as Phil Mist (4-40), Stephen Foulger (3-24) and young Stuart Ransley bowled dispirited Hook out for 130.
Hambledon, who lost the 19 points they won from Redlynch & Hale on day one because Aussie Leigh Burns was ineligible, bounced back with a 20-run win over neighbours Waterlooville.
Imrie Chakrabarti (47) and Rob Norris (39) led the way as the Dons piled up 198-6 and then reduced the Ville from a threatening 99-1 (Chris Baumann 48) to 178-9 (Mark le Clerq 4-43).
Wyvern sportmaster Stewart Magee, captain of struggling Gosport Borough, emerged from his Island jaunt much the happier for a thumping 132-run win over Ventnor.
Mike Rees (83) and teenager Craig Stares (49) paved the way for Borough's 218-4, after which Nathan Collins (5-22) and Devonian Andy Green (4-17) shot the Islanders out for 86.
But poor old Paultons just can't seem to get it right - visiting Leckford inflicting an eight-wicket defeat, their fourth in five games.
Andrew Collins (42), Mark Weaver (37) and Duncan Park (30) made their respective marks, but Paultons' 182-8 (Chris White 4-42) was swept aside by Scotsman Mike Howard (75) and Miles Bulpitt (41) who shared an unbroken second-wicket stand.
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