The Second XI entered the game which could define their season facing Patchway, who had celebrated winning the division the previous week, knowing that just a win would leave them tantalisingly close to promotion but to guarantee it they needed maximum bonus points. The other team who were chasing the final promotion place, Portishead, were playing Frampton Cotterell, and they started just a couple of points behind Barrow in the table.
After the rain over the previous couple of days, the toss was an important one to win as the wicket looked slow, heavy and sticky and fortunately it was a toss which Mark Gracey won. Not surprisingly he chose to bowl. It was a decision which immediately paid dividends with the three of the top four Patchway batmen falling to the impressive Mark Fisher for ducks leaving Patchway at 13/3 off 6 overs. Mark almost picked up a fourth wicket in his forth over as Leahy was left pirouetting in the crease trying to get out of the way of the ball only to knock the ball onto his own stumps, but the bails refused to fall. Frank Forge and Mark then tried tirelessly to pick up another wicket, but without success.
After a bowling change, Connor Jones and Mike Lilley tried to add to the wicket haul, but their efforts were fruitless and Leahy, riding his earlier good fortune, built a solid 101 partnership with Joyner. Jonny Sykes then took the wicket of Joyner with his first ball with a simple caught and bowled. Walters fell soon after to Will Kerswell for a duck and the game was shifting once again in Barrow’s favour. Guy Fisher took a vital sixth wicket with the fourth ball of the final over meaning Barrow achieved 3 bowling bonus points as Patchway set a target of 164/6.
After tea, Bernie Forge and Will Kerswell started the run chase but Will fell for a duck. Bernie fell soon after for 8 and Mark Gracey for 17 leaving Barrow in danger at 34/3 until Jonny Sykes scored a very quick fire 36 including a couple of straight sixes and another 6 over extra cover. By the time Jonny was caught Barrow were ahead of the run rate required. Jordan Allen and Connor Jones continued to bring the run chase closer to the 165 winning target before Jordan was bowled for another half century leaving Ellie Holdaway and Guy Fisher to guide Barrow past the winning post with 5 overs to spare.
This result gave Barrow 26 points out of a possible 30 and when news came in that Portishead had won off the final ball of the match with a 27 point win, meant promotion had been secured.
