FARNHAM clinched a final sixth place on their first season back in the Surrey Championship Division One by beating relegated Walton on Thames at the Park on Saturday.

Walton soon regretted their decision to bat first as George Osborne and Rob Goldsworthy reduced them to 8-3 on a good-looking track.

The seamers continued their rampage and the hapless visitors dipped to 37-6.

Matt Nichols resisted with 25, but the introduction of Rob Dale and spinner Matt Clarke signalled another slump and Walton crumbled to 68-9 before a hard-hitting stand between the last pair of Sammy Davis and Jack Dominy (30 not out) got the total up to 114, skipper Tom Grimes taking the last wicket.

Mark Bainbridge apart, Walton couldn’t contain Farnham openers Joel Walker and Guy Hicks who raced to 78 before being parted. Walker and Toby Davies saw Farnham home in the 29th over, Walker finishing 48 not out. Game over by 4.20pm.

Ian Thorpe says farewell

Ian Thorpe, fittingly, was batting at the finish as Farnham II beat Valley End II by seven wickets. It was his last game for the side after 17 years as captain and he was applauded off the ground after leading Farnham to a best-ever fifth place in the 2nd XI Premier Division.

Valley End, already relegated, took 35 off the first six overs, but then slipped to 50-5 as Marc Lewis and Alec Goldsworthy got amongst the wickets. Paul Williams, Josh Chauhan (42) and Nick Wellman rallied their side and Valley End’s 10 men reached 167 all out.

Farnham went off powerfully as Wes Taylor and Ben Ungaretti played shots all round the ground. Two wickets then fell quickly, but Ungaretti and Mike O’Mahony batted well against more accurate bowling.

Ungaretti, having reached a polished 50, was joined by Thorpe and the pair completed a seven-wicket victory with 12 overs to spare. Ungaretti finished undefeated on 84.

• Farnham III beat Byfleet III by nine wickets at Crondall to finish 17 points clear at the top of the 3rd XI West Division.

Peter Goldsworthy (2-11), Dan Jones (3-19 in 9 overs) and Steve Elstow (2-10) made short work of the visitors who were dismissed for 60.

Ollie Godden (30 not out) and skipper Jones (33) then set to work and Farnham knocked off the runs in 9.1 overs.