A PRE-ARRANGED "Stag" weekend certainly didn't lead up to the perfect match that Exhall and Wixford were looking for, writes Mervyn Collins.

A switch of Sunday and venue brought mixed fortunes for the Cotswold Hills League side when they entertained Fillong-ley in the Leicester-shire/Warwickshire group semi-final of the National Village Championship.

Steve Keen's pre-wedding plans took a handful of players for a two-night celebration in Notting-ham, hence the club's brace of league defeats and knockout despair!

The villagers, though, made a brave fist of scoring 213 for victory after finding themselves in a terrible tangle at 59-2 halfway through their reply.

However, Leon Gates and Ton Heneghan kick-started a recovery, while Dave Wing's 30 lifted the reply to respectability but 31 short of victory.

It was a target that sho-uld really have been round about Exhall's total but, a spate of drop-ped catches, including opener Noon who blasted 76, and a late flurry of runs, saw the visitors, who chose to bat first, score a daunting 212-6.

Gates was the star with the ball, taking 2-27 from nine overs, while Keen's two wickets proved expe-nsive and fellow reveller, Martin Park's last over of the innings went for 17!

Skipper Matt Gwynn, another Nottingham night owl, helped Chris Oscroft steady the ship after Scott Carmichael's early dem-ise .

The second wicket duo took the reply to 57 bef-ore Gywnn was caught at gully for 20 and Oscr-oft's departure two runs later spelled a swift exit.

Martin Park's was exa-ctly that with the score 60-4 as Gates strolled to the crease. He helped add 23 as the tempo quickened before partner Paul Hoy chipped a catch to mid-on.

Heneghan, not one to miss a night out - or two - on the town, was next in and remarkably lifted home spirits. No, not the optic kind! The sixth wicket pair blasted an amazing 32 runs off two overs to lift the score to 125-5 with 11 overs left.

However, the Australian miscued a full toss depa-rting with 43 to his name.

Heneghan now took on the mantle of senior partner and, a straight 6 and reverse sweep for two, had the home fans licking their lips in anticipation of another memorable night.

It failed to materialise, at least on the field, as Heneghan was trapped leg before for 19 to leave Exhall the vain hope of scoring 64 off the last 36 deliveries.

That they managed to add 33 off the next 28 was mainly down to Wing, who lost partying pair Keen and Lee Cham-bers on the way to a penultimate over mix-up with John Park that ended Exhall's hopes.