SPOUT House have been confirmed as the 2002 league champions after they defeated High Farndale by 17 runs at Bilsdale.

In an enjoyable encounter played in a good atmosphere, the champions must have had reservations that their total of 69-5 would be sufficient.

They owed much to Robin Garbutt, who continues to be the bedrock of the team, for his watchful innings of 22. Chris Brass (13) and Brian Hall (10) assisted, but they all had some difficulty against the wily bowling of Frank Croft, who fully deserved figures of 3-8.

The crucial moment came when prolific High Farndale opener Kevin Wilson was dismissed cheaply. His equally talented partner Brian Leckenby fought a lone battle against tenacious Spout House bowling, particularly from Garbutt, who only conceded four runs in his five-over spell and also took two wickets.

Leckenby eventually departed for 24 and with him went High Farndale's realistic hopes of success. Father and son George and James Allison, with 3-31 and 3-2 respectively, successfully mopped up the tail to begin Spout House celebrations.

The day before Spout House were equally impressive in recording a decisive nine-wicket victory at Harome.

Harome's 106 all out was centred around a good innings of 40 from Oliver Metcalfe. Jodie Robinson (26) and James Greenlay (18) also had useful knocks, but the focal point for Spout House was the performance of P Obank, whose figures of five wickets for just four runs proved too much for Harome to cope satisfactorily.

The home side must still have been reasonably hopeful about their ability to defend their final total, but any optimism proved illusory. Robin Garbutt was in excellent form and was still at the crease with 50 not out when the winning runs were scored.

Harley Karaynidis (17) was the only one to lose his wicket as Eddie Farrow (27no) fully supported Garbutt to ensure an important win.

Spout House's new bowling find, young James Allison, tore through the Gillamoor ranks to record figures of five wickets for three runs. He was supported by two wickets from K Sayer as Gillamoor slumped to 23 all out.

Gillamoor managed to take one Spout House wicket, but Steven Williams (17no) saw there were no further alarms as they cruised home by nine wickets.

Mention of Harome batsman Stephen Dodsworth's memorable innings of 146 not out recently has prompted a number of readers to refute the suggestion that this was possibly the highest ever score in the Feversham League.

Former Duncombe Park stalwart Jim Biggins was playing in, and still has details of, a league match between Pockley and Wombleton on July 4, 1956.

In a 24-over contest, Wombleton amassed 214-6, with an unbeaten Dickie Rivis making no less than 183 of these runs. Pockley then collapsed to 48 all out, Jim Biggins modestly recalling he took 8-24.