THE Maidstone-based cricket club The Mote have been demoted from the Kent League's premier division for the first time in their history. Tunbridge Wells have also lost their top flight status.

The Mote, desperate for a 20 points maximum tally in their final game of the season against third-placed Whitstable, produced another dismal batting display and lost by two wickets off the last ball.

The Mote thus suffered the indignity of finishing bottom of the table.

The hopes Tunbridge Wells staying up were extinguished by a 144 hammering against Lordswood.

The Mote captain James Barr said: "We have only won two games and can't complain. Batting has proved to be our downfall. We have been 25 or 30 runs short in virtually every game."

He did, however, single out out James Hodgson, who averaged over 50 in the league, and Chris Back.

Barr, who will stand down as skipper, thinks it's up to the players to adopt a different approach. He stressed: "They must realise that if they are going to play for the first team they must turn out more than once a week."

Barr feels that The Mote, hoping to bounce back at the first attempt, should look more to their younger players next season as they have fewer commitments.

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK's KENT MESSENGER