Published: Tuesday, 25th August, 2009 5:00pm

Sweetman targets big finish

by John O'Sullivan

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ROYAL Ascot skipper Nick Sweetman believes his side must win their last two matches of the season to guarantee promotion to the second tier of the Thames Valley League.

The former Division 3b table toppers lost ground on Slough 2nds and Chenies & Latimer despite an emphatic nine-wicket win over Marlow Park on Saturday.

And now Sweetman thinks only a perfect finish to the season will be good enough to ensure promotion.

He said: "I think we are going to have to win both of our last two games if we want to get promoted now.

"To win a game and still lose ground because the other two sides got 25 point wins is a bit frustrating, but there is nothing we can do about it now.

"We have two games left and we still have a good chance if we play well. We will be going all out for 25-point wins."

Ascot's quest to finish in the top two is aided by the fact that their rivals Slough and Chenies meet each other on the last game of the season.

Sweetman is aiming for a win this Saturday against Teddington Town to put the pressure the other two sides.

He said: "What we have to do is make sure we are in with a chance going into the last game because with those two playing each other anything can happen.

"We have been in the league with Teddington for a long time now, so we know them well. They are always a difficult side to bowl out, so we will have our work cut out.

"Last time we played we posted 300 and could not get them out on 180-8. But our bowlers have been in good form so I'm confident we can get them all out this time."

On Saturday Ascot made light work of chasing down Marlow Park's decent total of 225-9.

Jamie Romer took 6-80 for Ascot before a sensational opening partnership between youngsters James Wensley (106no) and Jack Kendall (73) fired the title chasers to victory.

And the skipper reserved special praise for his young batsmen, who put in a fearless performance.

He said: "What is most pleasing is that they are the two youngest players in the side. Jack is only 16 and James is 18 and they handled the situation very well and just played their natural game."