ROVERS blew away NRG Pessimists at the KGV yesterday evening, further underlining that the Barclays Premier One is very much two divisions within one. At the top, Clubhouse Optimists, Total Cobo and Rovers are still in the hunt for the title. Below them sit five teams whose main ambition is mid-table safety from the threat of relegation.

Tim Belton’s men are top of that five, but that is the limit of their expectations.

Yesterday they came across opponents with too much power in their willow and strangling accuracy with the ball.

Richard Headington was the only wicket to fall, and even then he had scored at better than a run a ball, looking particularly strong again driving through the off side.

When Keith Le Cheminant, Pessimists’ best bowler on the night, induced a thin edge, Ed Benfield strode to the crease. He then produced another thumping knock, hammering the ball in any and every direction, hampered only when receiving an Andy Cooper delivery squarely in the box. While that restricted his running, it only made him hit the ball harder and further, especially the last delivery of the innings. His 60 came off just 44 balls and included seven fours and three sixes.

Tim Duke was also solid in defence and powerful on anything loose. One Steve Birkett full toss was dispatched over mid-wicket to within an inch of the Kraken Group advertising board. He faced just 55 balls.

Pessimists’ reply never got going – Rovers would not allow it. The four bowlers used produced barely a handful of loose balls all innings.

The top four batters all reached double figures but none could go on to the big score needed and Rovers cruised home.