Penkridge 1st XI continued to press leaders Wednesbury at the summit of Division 1 in the Staffs Clubs League with a comprehensive victory at Springvale on Saturday. Impressive bowling spells from Gary Pope (3-26), Mo Hassan (2-28) and Ian Brown (3-10) meant Springvale posted a target of just 141 as they were bowled out in the 44th over. Penkridge needed just 22 overs to knock off the runs and did so without losing a wicket as in-form openers Alex Watson (63) and Waseem Khan (66) scored at a run a ball to cruise to another 20-point haul.

The second XI maintained their position at the top of Division 1A with an 8 wicket success against bottom club Rugeley at Pillaton. Batting first, visitors Rugeley struggled against a disciplined Penkridge bowling attack with Jon Price (3-59), Khalid Sadiq (2-32) and Liam Kettle (2-15) causing them problems. Despite being dropped no less than 5 times, Rugeley skipper Mike Tinker top scored with 55, in the visitors total of 195-9 from their 50 overs. In reply, despite the early loss of Tom Morris, Penkridge kept on top of the required run rate chiefly through 40 from 34 balls from Khalid Sadiq, and his power play was consolidated by Steve Jones (71 not out) and Kevin Baker (54 not out) as Penkridge reached their target in the 40th over.

Penkridge 1^st team continued their unbeaten run this season in a close fought contest with promotion rivals Beacon. Having won the toss and putting their opponents in to bat, Agi Ahmed and Roger Fildes put on 78 for the first wicket. The introduction of Mo Hassan into the attack put Penkridge into the ascendancy. With figures of 4-48 and Ross Shelton chipping in again with a couple of wickets, the away team were restricted to 218-8 off their 50 overs. Openers Alex Watson and Wasim Khan, both in good form this season, today were out cheaply and it was left to club pro, Ronnie Hassan and skipper Paul Szewczyk to steady the ship. A partnership of 88 put Penkridge back in the hunt but when Hassan was dismissed on 50, wickets started to tumble. Szewczyk remained defiant with 96 not out, but just couldn’t steer his team home, Penkridge also posting 218-8 leaving both teams with a rare absolute draw.

The second team had more success with another victory in Division 1a against Wolverhampton. Not for the first time this season, Richard James took the plaudits. James bagged his second five wicket haul for the season as Wolverhampton were bowled out for 166 in 41 overs. James, opening the batting, gave Penkridge the start they needed with a typically swashbuckling 46. Steve Jones was the next wicket to fall with a more circumspect 33. It was then left to Matty Jones (57) and Manzoor Sadaq (18) to see Penkridge home with a comfortable eight wicket victory.

Penkridge 1^st XI claimed a winning draw against Milford Hall in what turned out to be a one sided affair in their top of the table clash at Pillaton. The visitors won the toss and chose to field first and openers Alex Watson (61) and Wasim Khan (36) put on 50 for the first wicket, for the 7^th time this season. Milford Hall captain, Guy Bulpitt, bought himself on to bowl and slowed the run rate right down, conceding just two runs from his first six overs. With club professional Ronnie Hassan out cheaply, Bulpitt and Woodward bought Milford back in to the game. With Woodward accounting for inform Penkridge captain Szewczyk (27), and Bulpitt picking up his third wicket when bowling Chad Clarke, it was left to Laeq Chishti to complete the innings with an aggressive innings of 84 off 62 balls, including eight sixes. With Mo Hassan getting in on the act late in the innings, Penkridge posted a formidable total of 278 for the loss of six wickets. In the absence of star batsman Aaron Jeavons, Metcalfe and Brazier got Milford's reply off to a steady start, but Chishti’s contribution did not end with the bat. Ross Shelton saw to Metcalfe (24) and Chishti then dismissed both Brazier and Thompson, all three batsman caught behind by Watson. Chishti also removed the dogged Hollinshead and though the Milford middle order provided some resistance, it was left to the experienced duo of Bulpitt (12) and Nigel Francis (30) to defend the final 10 overs to secure the draw.

In the 2^nd X1 clash between the same teams, it was Milford’s Matt Cooper who stole the show with figures of 9-58 in restricting Penkridge to 229 – Mo Shafiq (82) and captain Rob Lawrence (42) the main contributors. However, Cooper’s efforts were in vain as Liam Kettle and Tim Dredge both claimed 4 wickets apiece, Dredge against his former club to bowl Milford out for  202 and claim maximum points.

Penkridge 2nds maintained their position at the top of Division 1a with a convincing winning draw against the same opposition. Chad Clarke led the way in Penkridge's massive 340-6 with 89 which enabled the home team to declare 2 overs early, but Swindon made sure the afternoon was a run packed affair as they racked up 274-7 from their 52 overs.

The thirds crushed Swindon 3rd XI in their fixture, cruising to a 10 wicket win. Chris Henderson (3-36), James Heaton (2-21) and Martin Dawson (2-4) skittled Swindon for just 109, and then Manzoor Sadaq (43 not out) and Tom Morris (60 not out) raced to victory inside 18 overs without losing a single wicket!