Liphook & Ripsley ended the season with a superb win over promotion hopefuls Sarisbury Athletic at Ripsley Park.

Although Liphook went into the match already knowing they were relegated from Division 1, they can take great confidence into the Division 2 season next summer as they look to bounce straight back up.

Sarisbury and Alton went into the final day of the season both in with a chance of promotion to the Premier Division. Sarisbury had to win and hope Alton slipped up.

The visitors won the toss and elected to bowl first on a day that looked good for bowling on a damp track.

Henry Amis was removed early off the bowling of Jordan Wright with the score at ten.

Ryan Covey and Joe Farndale set about rebuilding the innings and put on 65 before Farndale fell for 16.

Harry Munt joined Covey and the pair played watchfully as the three spinners of Rawlins, Franklin and Sam Hill tried to slow the run rate.

Covey and Munt shared a 70-run partnership before Munt was eventually caught for a well-played 31.

Covey was the next to fall just one run later as he was caught well in the slips off the bowling of Hill for 76, leaving the score at 145 for four.

That ended a fine season for the Liphook opener Covey who amassed 640 league runs at an average of 40.

Oscar Amis and Rob Nicklin set about upping the run rate late on, clearing the rope with ease. Nicklin fell with the score on 199 and Amis batted well for 34 off just 28 balls but Liphook collapsed from 199 for five to 210 all out in the final over.

Josh Hill and Jordan Wright picked up four wickets each for the away side.

Sarisbury’s reply started strongly as openers Ricky Rawlins and Tom Mills played aggressively and raced the score on to 20 off just three overs.

But quick opening bowler George Neave got the all-important breakthrough, as Mills was caught behind by Farndale for 13.

Danger man Sam Floyd entered the crease, but he wasn’t there for long as skipper Sean Burton bowled him for a duck.

Rawlins and Cam Grierson were next to fall as Sarisbury slumped to 39 for four and things were looking good for the home side.

The watchful Jack Lovett and big-hitting Nathan Feltham tried to get Sarisbury out of the mire – and Feltham looked to be getting his eye in with a few lusty blows.

But change bowler Ryan Covey put an end to that as he had the batsman caught behind for 28.

Lovett was next to go for 23, caught off the bowling of Rob Nicklin and Sarisbury had slumped to 91 for seven – and it looked as if Liphook were going to spoil the party.

Sarisbury managed to crawl their way to 125 all out after some superb performances by all the Liphook bowlers as Burton, Neave, Covey and Henry Amis all claimed two wickets apiece.

Nicklin and Oscar Amis also weighed in with a wicket each.

Young wicketkeeper Farndale was faultless behind the stumps, claiming four catches, and captain Burton ended the season as leading wicket taker, claiming 23 victims.