Higham welcomed the final game of the league season and with relegation to Division 2 a certainty, were merely looking for some pride and wave goodbye to division 1 with a victory. The day was set fair and ideal for cricket with Ham River Hill looking at its finest.

Higham looked for a positive start and Richard Shackleton turned to opening bowlers and Robert Harton and Leigh Short to inflict early misery on the Worth opening batsmen. Worth openers Furness and Shaw started off circumspect with the odd early glimpse of elegant stroke play.

Stephen Bell came into the attack and Shaw instantly took a liking, dispatching a string of boundaries to ease the pressure. Furness attempted to emulate his partner but only managed to chip to a sprawling Dave Abernethy at mid-off. Bell quickly followed this up as he sent Wheeler's stumps cart wheeling and left Worth 65-2.

Shaw untroubled by the recent dismissals continued in positive fashion and found a solid partner in Mercer and both regularly had the Beggar's fielders chasing the leather in the afternoon sun.

Higham fought bravely but where unable to make the breakthrough and soon Shaw brought up his half century. Shaw and Mercer looked to inflict further damage but after reaching a partnership of 70 cunning bowling by Ant Say removed the dangerous Shaw with a full delivery which trapped him lbw.

The home side buoyed by the big wicket of Shaw rattled Worth further as Say combined with the retuning Dave Abernethy to leave Worth reeling at 168-6. However, Higham failed to capitalise and with some poor bowling and fielding aided Merrington and Bishop who fought back and dispatched the ball to the boundary with ease and took Worth to a ample score of 228-6.

Higham trudged off dejected and deflated by again failing to apply pressure and give away too many easy runs.

Pressure was again on Higham's fragile batting line-up, and the hopes of a morale boosting victory rested on the rocks of the Higham batting line-up Nick and Richard Shackleton.

The innings started off in a positive fashion with Nick punishing the opening bowlers especially Wheeler who he distainfully hit for 2 sixes. Richard Shackleton ably assisted his brother and the Higham total raced passed 50 in no time at all.

As the confidence in the Higham team rose Nick Shackleton went to the well once too often and was trapped lbw by Wheeler playing across the line looking for another boundary. Worth soon moved into the box seat as Mark Cunningham and Tim Hance came and went both caught playing expansive shots.

Leigh Short again showed his genuine all round ability and teamed up with Richard Shackleton to reignite the Higham victory charge with sharp singles and flowing drives to the boundary. Richard brought up the well-deserved half century and Higham where well set at 141-3 with a 4th wicket partnership of 57.

Merrington came into the attack and struck instantly in his first over as he removed the classy looking Leigh Short. This wicket brought the traditional clump of wicket as Dave Abernethy, Ant Say and Craig Cooper all went cheaply.

Any hopes for a Higham victory where further dashed as Butler had the comprehensible Richard Shackleton adjudged lbw. As a Higham victory looked a tall ask Stephen Bell and Robert Harton played sensibly and took the opportunity with the willow in hand.

Stephen Bell fell in the dying overs and Richard Hawkins came in and showed he was in no mood for blocking as he smeared 3 boundaries on the trot. Higham's innings ended on 197-9 a losing deficit of only 31 runs.

Higham left Division 1 with a defeat and numerous sad league performances in 2006 but there are positives to take on board and a young team to raise hopes for 2007 and the Division 2 campaign.