Photo © ECC

The first competitive league competition to be held in Spain for some years took place on the Costa Blanca during June. Due to the lack of suitable venues, all matches were played at the Columbus Oval, Playa Albir - the home of Sporting Alfas C.C. Four Clubs were involved in the competition, Intellectuals CC, Javea CC, Mojacar CC and Sporting Alfas CC with the matches being played over three weekends. The fixture programme at the Columbus Oval only allowed Clubs to play each other once.

However, in spite of the limited number of matches the competition proved to be a success, with all matches being completed and all three Clubs involved in the final weekend being in with a chance of taking the Costa Blanca League title.

The result of the Saturday match left Javea CC and Sporting Alfas CC on level points with the outcome of the final game between the two Clubs determining the league champions. In the final game Javea won the toss, elected to bat, and were soon in trouble as Ben Fletcher accounted for the two opening batsmen. When Bacon destroyed the middle order with a splendid bowling spell that saw him claim 3-9 from his eight overs, the Javea score stood at 67-6. However Fisher (45) had remained firm and he eventually found a partner in Kidgell as they added 61 for the seventh wicket, before the return of Scott Burchell accounted for both of them. The final score only reached a modest 149-8. After the loss of an early wicket, Climent (48) and Howe, with an undefeated 86, put the outcome beyond doubt with a second wicket stand of 130. Sporting Alfas CC ran out comfortable winners by eight wickets to capture the Costa Blanca League Cup.

With the prospect of more venues becoming available by next season, it is hoped that the league will encompass more Clubs and possibly offer the opportunity for teams to play on a Home and Away basis.

League Results

Mojacar 159-7 (Harris 66) (Millinton 3-41)
Javea 162-7 (Copeland 52) (K.Rose 3-27, Holmes 3-28)
Javea won by 3 wickets

Intellectuals 211-6 (Amir 124) (Carr 3-21)
Mojacar 197-4 (K. Rose 54*)
Intellectuals won by 14 runs

Mojacar 205-6 
Sporting Alfas 206-3 (Climent 83)
Sporting Alfas won by 7 wickets

Intellectuals 169-9 (Assad 62) (Jones 3-23)
Sporting Alfas 170- 4 (Parkin 57)
Sporting Alfas won by 6 wickets

Javea 310-3 (Stanfield 102*, Curness 80, Copeland 61) (Keeling 3-50)
Intellectuals 211 (Amir 100) (Braithwaite 3-36, Fisher 3-28, Copeland 3-41)
Javea won by 99 runs

Javea 149-8 (Bacon 3-9)
Sporting Alfas 150-2 (Howe 86*)
Sporting Alfas won by 8 wickets

Final Table 
Sporting Alfas 12 pts
Javea 8
Intellectuals 4
Mojacar 0