West Kent Local News
The Nevill Ground, Tunbridge Wells. Image credit: John Sutton / Geograph, CC BY-SA 2.0
Tunbridge Wells Finish Third as St Lawrence & Highland Court Crowned Kent League Champions
The Kent Cricket League Premier Division season reached its conclusion on Saturday, with West Kent's two top-flight clubs signing off in contrasting fashion. St Lawrence & Highland Court were confirmed as champions, Tunbridge Wells capped a strong campaign with third place, and Sevenoaks Vine's push for a top-half finish fell agonisingly short on the final day.
Tunbridge Wells 197 all out beat Lordswood, bowled out for 95
Kent Cricket League Premier Division | Final round
Tunbridge Wells: Ben Dawkins 68, Ollie Morgan 36; Lewis Dale 5-28 (Lordswood)
Lordswood: bowled out for 95
Tunbridge Wells signed off their season in style, posting 197 all out thanks to Ben Dawkins's 68 and Ollie Morgan's 36, before bowling Lordswood out for just 95 to win comfortably. Lewis Dale's 5 for 28 for the home side counted for personal statistics only - Lordswood's relegation was already confirmed by other results elsewhere in the division. For Tunbridge Wells, the win rounds off a season that saw them stay in touch with the league's top two for much of the run-in, ultimately finishing third - one of the club's stronger recent campaigns.
Bromley 255-8 beat Sevenoaks Vine 244-9
Kent Cricket League Premier Division | Final round
Bromley: Sean Thompson 61, Ollie Streets 53 not out, Alfie Veysey 46, Ryan Cartwright 40
Sevenoaks Vine: Will House 58, Chris Vernon 56, Harry Bevan-Thomas 42, Luke Schlemmer 40
Sevenoaks Vine's season ended in defeat, but there was no shame in it. Chasing Bromley's imposing 255 for 8 - built on contributions from Sean Thompson (61), Ollie Streets (53 not out), Alfie Veysey (46) and Ryan Cartwright (40) - Vine responded with a spirited chase of their own, Will House (58), Chris Vernon (56), Harry Bevan-Thomas (42) and Luke Schlemmer (40) all getting among the runs before the innings finished 11 runs short on 244 for 9. With survival already secured a fortnight earlier, this was a dead rubber in table terms but a proper contest on the pitch.
Elsewhere, the title itself was wrapped up at Highland Court, where St Lawrence & Highland Court overcame an early wobble - slumping to 71 for 6 - to post 205 for 9 thanks to Darren Stevens's 53 and John Grewar's unbeaten 46, then bowled Blackheath out for 186 to win by 19 runs and be crowned champions. Hayes's win away at Minster confirmed them as runners-up and sent Minster down alongside Lordswood, while Whitstable secured their own survival with a two-wicket win at Bexley to claim the bonus points they needed.
Replacing Minster and Lordswood in the Premier Division next season will be Championship title winners Gravesend and runners-up Bickley Park, after Sandwich Town's win at Canterbury wasn't enough to overhaul them for an automatic promotion spot. Both West Kent's Premier Division clubs go into next season with plenty to build on: Tunbridge Wells finishing third represents one of the club's stronger recent campaigns, while Sevenoaks Vine will start 2027 aiming to kick on from a season that, in the end, came down to survival rather than a serious promotion push.
