... with major changes to the club game coming this winter (see Dick Belcher article here). Richard Spiller reviews the action as East Molesey lift the title.

Sutton v East Molesey

Teams who have met with the disappointment of relegation this year can take much strength from the tale of East Molesey.

One of the original members of the Surrey Championship when it was inaugurated for the 1968 season, after winning the title in 1980 they went into a serious decline, sliding down the steadily expanding league. Their return to the elite had plenty of bumps in the road too, only saving themselves from relegation late in the 2018 season.

But since recapturing the title 12 months later, the Moles have become a powerhouse again, Saturday’s victory over Sutton making them champions for the third time in five seasons.

While title rivals Reigate Priory – just two points behind – could not beat the weather and could only gain five points from an abandoned home match against Banstead, East Molesey benefited from Sutton’s excellent covers and hard work to get their match on for a 26 overs per side contest.

Safe from the drop, Sutton were inserted and lost their top three cheaply to left-arm spinner Matt Tigg, needing Dan Peall’s 44 from 29 balls to drag them up to 139-8. Tigg (3-20) and off-spinner Jamie Southgate (2-38) were aided by one each from Johnny Fawett and brothers Toby and Harry Porter.

Moles had taken two bowling bonus points but would need to win the match to secure the title, Sam Burge’s typically forthright 45 from 46 balls giving them early momentum before he fell to Fabian Cowdrey.

Bad light saw their target revised to 123 from 22, director of cricket Southgate (24) and Cole Campbell (21) making valuable contributions before Harry Porter (6no) and Tigg (6no) taking them to victory with nine balls to spare.

A campaign fought without spearhead Andy Westphal, recovering from a knee operation, surprised those within the club who felt it would be a transitional season, which gives all the more credit to skipper Nick Stevens.

It has been a remarkable comeback by Moles, the successes and setbacks shared in a club who treasure their riverside ground, making improvements with every new season. The nets always seem full of youngsters and families abound. The work of the Lawfords and the Burges – among others – have created dividends which the Porters and their like look set to continue for some time yet.

Sunday extra

Moles will also be one of the four clubs involved in the league’s T20 Plate finals at Horsley & Send on Saturday with their B side taking on Ashford B while Reigate Priory B play Cheam B on the other ground. The plate has been named after Raman Subba Row, the former England opening bat and leading administrator who played a leading role in the formation of the Surrey Championship.

Full article here.

The road to the Subba Row Plate semi-final can be seen here.

Photo by Eberhard Grossgasteiger.