Alton promoted as Trojans floor Ventnor

Alton are within 10 points of the Southern Electric Premier League, Division 3 championship after a comfortable six-wicket win over Rowledge, which clinches promotion for the North Hampshire club.

Their task was simplified by Trojans' 14-run win at second-placed Ventnor, who must win their last two matches against Leckford and Southsea to finish runners-up.

Alton, who have spent the past three seasons in SPL3 after being relegated in 2000, will surely wrap up the title formalities at Portsmouth next Saturday.

They will return to Division 2 with the nucleus of that relegated side.

"But we will be back much wiser and with a lot more experience under our belts," predicts captain Julian Ballinger, whose 5-29 return against Rowledge confirmed the Alton off-spinner as this season's current Division 3 leading wicket-taker.

Ballinger and New Zealander Ben Jansen certainly called the tune against Rowledge who, despite starting the day in third place, are not as strong as the side which reached last season's National Village Championship semi-finals.

"We're probably about three or four players missing from that side and, Simon Bonser apart, it's fair to say we've not been able to replace them," confirmed skipper Dave Booton.

Rowledge, who have steadily climbed the Hampshire recreational pyramid since 1986, never really imposed themselves at Alton's plesaant tree-fringed Jubilee Ground, nestled beneath the Watercress railway line.

They were on the back foot directly Jeremy Pang-Kessler (2-21) removed Cardiff UCCE all-rounder Chris Yates and teenager Chris Brinsden in consecutive deliveries at 16-2.

Nick Morant (18), struggling hard to recapture last season's batting form, got his head down, leaving run-rich Queenslander Justin Larrescy to accelerate the score.

Predictably, the Australian's sweet timing and clean hitting caught the eye,.

He hit several crisp straight drives, but twice rode his luck - once when he mis-pulled only to be dropped at mid-on and shortly afterwards when he spooned a return catch off a `no-ball' to Ballinger.

Morant departed at 76-3 - the first of eight wickets to fall to the Jansen-Ballinger spin combination.

Larrescy (52) and David Lloyd took the total on to 113 but when the Beenleigh-Logan Grade batsman picked out Bruce Oliphant at deep backward square-leg, Rowledge completely lost their way.

The last six wickets fell for 28 runs, with Jansen finishing with 3-27 and Ballinger his 34th wicket of the season.

Alton, now within sight of a 14-match winning clean sweep, suffered two early setbacks against the pacey Chris Yates (2-39).

Richie Morgan (25) took the total on to 49-3 as Alton gradually extracted the venom out of the Rowledge attack.

Howard Gadsby, relishing up-order responsibility, hit a fine 41 and set the stage for the slightly unorthodox Huw Ross (31 not out) and Oliphant (36 not out) to clinch a pretty comprehensive win.

It was Alton's 12th successive victory.

One more will clinch the championship - but, if Alton are to compete and survive at the higher level, they may have to equip themselves with stronger pace bowling options than they currently possess.