Elworth have several matches about which they can be proud this season, thrilling wins over Hem Heath and Cheadle to name but Saturday's winning draw at Checkley might reasonably be put at the head of the list.

It was a display full of character and determination and, faced with a monumental target of 242 from a reduced number of overs due to rain interruptions, one which gained the deserved reward of the three bonus points for a winning draw. Elworth's scoring rate was 5.25 an over compared to Checkley's 4.72.

Rain reduced the number of overs Elworth had at their disposal from 59 to 39, 185 in 39 overs would secure a winning draw and was certainly the initial target. 6.2 an over was the requirement to record the win. In the event the Foxes had a good crack at it, finishing just 37 runs short was a remarkable effort and indicates that this team belongs in the Premier Division.

That this was achieved with two regular first team bowlers missing, Steve Morgan and Mike Stewart, is further evidence of Elworth's credentials for playing at this level.

Checkley has been the scene of many a great battle between these clubs, it is a fine place to play and watch cricket. Tom Moulton led the home side's batting with a superb 109 not out. Whilst it was James Cronie's 28 ball 51 which raised the blood pressure of the Foxes' followers, Moulton wrapped up the most expensive over of the day, 23 off Ben Holt, with a boundary which took him to 100.

Cronie was hitting anything within reach, that Holt over just mentioned included 6.4.6. off his bat in consecutive deliveries. Bey Swanepoel also saw "a sixer climb the sky" off Cronie's bat.

Moulton reached his 50 in 90 minutes and his 100 in 3 hours, Cronie's 50 came in 33 minutes. Andy Carr (41) and Tom Carrigan (24) also made strong contributions.

The Elworth bowlers toiled manfully but none had much luck nor did they find anything in the conditions to help them. Isaac Austin (1/42 from 11.4 overs) impressed in his first Premier League game; his previous 1st XI experience was in the National Knockout at Wolverhampton and in the Talbot Cup at Endon.

He and Chris Winter were the most economical bowlers and Austin deserved the wicket of Checkley skipper Michael Allan who declared immediately he was caught by Swanepoel for three.

The Foxes lost Matt Yardley from the second ball of the innings when he edged Clark Haddrell to wicket-keeper Carr. Yet Alex Banks and Russ Ballard maintained a lively tempo and put up the 50 in 10 overs, Banks hitting five fours and Ballard four in that time. At 53 the Haddrell/Carr combination struck again this time Ballard fell for 18, Chris Regan was then bowled first ball by Moulton.

Regan is a fine player who is going through a lean spell, he currently looks like he expects disaster to befall. It will change, we have seen too many quality innings from him to believe otherwise, a lucky break may be what it takes, at the moment all he is getting are unlucky ones.

Swanepoel's arrival had a galvanising effect, he scored 23 from the first 10 balls he received and that includes a couple at the start which he treated with caution. He soon got going, the next two both went to the boundary.

The first batting point came in the 16th over when Swanepoel took a boundary off Moulton, but Moulton hit back and in his next over he found an edge and Banks was caught behind by Carr for 31. Eddie Parrish joined Swanepoel, these two have been in good form recently and they continued in that vein. They put up 50 at better than a run a minute and stepped on the gas in exhilarating style.

Haddrell received punishment from Parrish going for 12 in one over and in the next over Cronie went for 14 as Swanepoel too hit hard, reaching his 50 with a six and a four. The 150 was up now after 31 overs and though 92 in eight overs looked steep it was not, with Swanepoel and Parrish in this frame of mind, out of the question.

Two overs later the 100 partnership was reached it had taken barely more than an hour and Checkley captain Allan rang some changes. Seb Smith and Ben Haslegrove came on. Smith exercised some control but the objective of 185 looked within Elworth's reach.

Maximum batting points were achieved when Swanepoel hit Haddrell for six, Parrish had hit each of the last two balls of the previous over from James Cox for four. As so often occurs when a big partnership is broken, both protagonists depart within a short time of each other. First Parrish, on 51, having reached a splendid 50 with a boundary was out next ball to the persevering Cox.

Haddrell picked up Swanepoel (67) in the next over. 184/6 with 4.5 overs to hold out. James Holt didn't seem concerned with holding out hitting Haddrell's second ball to him for four. Thom Bamford also took a four in the over but he was out shortly afterwards, bowled by Moulton for four.

The Holt brothers saw out the last eight balls, in fact James hit 11 runs from the last four balls of the game. Elworth's 12 points see them retain fifth place in the Premier table, two points behind Checkley, three behind third placed Longton and seven behind second placed Hem Heath. Leaders Porthill Park have opened up a 24-point lead at the top.

This Saturday Elworth welcome Moddershall and Oulton to London Road. The visitors are sixth, 13 points behind the Foxes, the game starts at noon.