Vale relish their fight for survival

Sep 5 2007 by Nick Purewal, Evening Chronicle

Three Counties Northumberland League

AGAINST almost all the odds, Clara Vale are still fighting for their lives – and loving every minute of it.

Alex Herbert’s unbeaten century set up a battling draw against Alnmouth as Vale racked up 199 before Dave Greener (4-33) and Chris Mee (3-43) held up the run chase.

Adrian Miller took the last wicket to leave the scores level and sustain Vale’s survival hopes, with Kirkley losing to title-chasing Blue Flames.

Vale sit 16 points behind Kirkley in the standings, and with two games to go either side can save themselves.

Captain Dave Greener said: “It was a brilliant performance and rather strange to get the draw like that, but we are pleased with the result because of course we could have lost the game.

“We fought all day long and got just rewards for our never-say-die attitude and a gritty performance.

“It would be fantastic to avoid the drop, but we are not wholly-consumed with that.

“We are just trying to win the games in front of us, and if we do that it could be enough.

“We have just had fun with our cricket all summer, we have worked hard as well, but we knew we would be up against it a little.

“So we have made the best of it and just enjoyed the competition, and in the last few weeks that has been paying off.”

Cowgate extended their lead at the top to 26 points with a 10-wicket win over relegated Belsay.

All out for just 43, Belsay did their best but were overwhelmed by Mansoor’s 5-14.

Blue Flames’ 145-run defeat of Kirkley means they are the only side who can catch Cowgate now, Sean Collins smashing 96 before Saleem Akhtar (4-39) and Rizwan Qureshi (3-33) wrapped things up.

Stocksfield clung on for a tight win over Blyth, eventually getting it together to nab the victory by one wicket.

Ravi Sharma’s 64 set Stocksfield on their way in their closer-than-anticipated winning run chase.