West Bergholt promoted

West Bergholt became the first club to ensure themselves of promotion after they defeated Great Totham by 47 runs in the Division Three clash at Notley. They will now be participating in Division Two next season.

Bocking put a big dent in the Championship challenge of Colchester & East Essex in their Division One match at Notley. The match certainly had a dramatic conclusion, that few matches could ever equal. Colchester had batted first and totalled 96-5 with Julian Russell scoring 37 not out. Colchester were without Andrew McGarry, and his absence was probably felt. Bocking kept their scoring rate going at a decent rate, so that when the final over began they looked nailed on certainties to collect a big win. They were on 90-2 at the start of the over, a score which moved to 92-2 from the first ball of Greg DeSilva's over. Then just when Colchester needed a hat-trick from him they got it, with Danny McIntyre, Dean Bass, and Keith Merrell all being caught. This left young Barry Edwards to face two balls, needing to score five to win the match. Showing no fear Barry hit Greg for six to take Bocking to 98-5. Greg's hat-trick helping him to figures of 4-34. Braintree Youth, who have barely played a league match in recent times, sprung back to life with a 52 run victory over Rayne. David Hale, Andy Ledgerton and Michael Joyce all scoring 25 not out or better as they closed on 138-2. Rayne were never at the races and fell just short of a bonus point as their reply ended with them on 86-5.

Getting back to the Division Three action and more of West Bergholt's achievement in securing the first promotion of the season, and their third consecutive promotion. They hit 141-5 against Great Totham at Notley, all without a single boundary being hit. Scott McKillop, 39, and Andy Goding, 35 not out, top scoring for them. Great Totham soon lost three wickets but thanks to 32 from Daniel Chalk and 23 not out from Danny Simpson they did capture one point as their innings closed on 94-5. Elmstead Grasshoppers poor form at Notley continued when they slumped to a five wicket defeat against Braintree College. It was also the first time they have lost two consecutive matches. Robert Spalding took 3-34 as Elmstead were dismissed for just 48 with five of their batsmen being caught. Dan Garner then hit 25 not out as the Collegians reached 49-1 in less than seven overs. Sampfords took advantage of Elmstead's slip up to renew their promotion challenge by defeating Kelvedon & Feering Reserves by 44 runs. Sampfords dominated with the bat as they reached 143-3 with all their players reaching at least 14. Greg Banks then returned figures of 2-12 a Kelvedon & Feering Reserves were dismissed for 99. Braintree completed the double over Dunmow in the remaining match in this division. Without three regulars Braintree kept Dunmow down to 87-3. Andy Strong scoring 29 not out for Dunmow. Braintree lost two wickets in reaching 31, but Steve Isaac, 27 not out, and Chris Leech, 22 not out, kept Braintree on track, and 89-2 was reached with four balls to spare.

The action at the Leisure Centre was taken over with just the three Division Five matches, and there was sure some drama here. It happened in the vital top of the table clash between Abberton and Bocking Reserves. Abberton hit 138-3 even without Barry Rudlin, as Keiran Savill, Tom Henderson, and M.Abrey stepped up to the plate to make good contributions. Bocking Reserves reply began badly as they slumped to 4-3, and while this was going on Sam Bass was apparently refusing to participate any more in the match after not getting a bowl. He was persuaded to come back to help his team out, and if he had a point to prove he certainly did it. Going in to bat with Bocking Reserves on 28-4, he promptly changed the course and pattern of the match. He single-handedly took Bocking Reserves to a final total of 129-5 with a innings of 86 not out, which included seven sixes. Thus he captured five bonus points which in context of the position at the top was effectively ten points. Bocking Reserves now lead the table by 22 points, but with Abberton's appeal pending, without those bonus points that lead would have now been just 12 points. Boreham Reserves now have more points than Sampfords Reserves but will remain no higher than fourth in the final reckoning. They defeated Rayne III's by four wickets after being set a target of 89-4 to overtake.Thanks to Neal and Glenn Hadgraft they did so for the loss of two wickets. In the match in the bottom three section, Kelvedon & Feering III's defeated Coggeshall A Reserves by 49 runs.

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February 18th

Coggeshall end Witham's defence, and West Bergholt win Division Three

It was a great evening for Coggeshall at the Leisure as first they defeated Witham by 54 runs, and then watched Braintree Youth defeat Colchester & East Essex by 65 runs, to further enhance their Championship winning chances. West Bergholt also wrapped up the Division Three Championship after trouncing Braintree College, a result which followed Elmstead Grasshoppers only managing to tie their match with Great Totham. Bocking Reserves' promotion to Division Four was secured after Sampfords Reserves failed to defeat Abberton & District in their Division Five match at Notley.

Halstead concede and suffer points deduction

Halstead were unable to field a team for today's Division Five match against Kelvedon & Feering III, they will also suffer a 15 point deduction as they are also unable to provide officials for the match between Abberton & District and Sampfords Reserves.

February 25th

Colchester & Braintree Youth keep the pot boiling

Coggeshall are not League Champions just yet. They may still lead the table but Braintree Youth and Colchester & East Essex are level eighteen points behind them with, importantly, games against Coggeshall still to play. The two challengers kept the pot boiling nicely with victories over Bocking and Rayne respectively. Due to the withdrawals and the way the original fixture list fell, it was also the final league matches of the season for Bocking and Rayne, and even though they fill the bottom two places they know that with no relegation they will be back in Division One next season. Braintree Youth collected all fifteen points from their 77 run victory over a weakened Bocking team that was giving debuts to two players. Nigel Sheldrake, Andy Ledgerton, and Steve Hale all exceeded 25 not out as they closed their innings on 128-2. The match was soon over as Bocking slumped to 9-3 with their top three all departing for 0. A fourth batsmen later also fell without scoring but Bocking did survive to the end of their twelve overs but only managed a total of 51-5. Colchester & East Essex had lost three matches on the spin but ended that run with a four wicket victory over Rayne. Richard Whiteside top scored for Rayne with 79, but it was not enough as Greg DeSilva hit 27 not out, and Andrew Kennedy, 21 not out, as Colchester reached 80-2 with time to spare.

Promotion? Who will get it?

Two teams have to be promoted from Division Two at the end of the season, but one of those teams will not be the current leaders, Coggeshall Reserves, as they simply cannot under League rules. So we have to look below them for the contenders. Chappel & Wakes Colne are almost home and dry, but beneath them it is a real scramble, with Shalford now in that second berth, but apart from Reserves, who similarly cannot be promoted, every other team in still in the mix. Coggeshall Reserves and Rayne Reserves met but it was no contest as Coggeshall Reserves ran out winners by 100 runs. Every Coggeshall Reserves batsmen made a contribution as they posted a total of 145-2, little expecting Rayne Reserves, who had won their last five League matches and six matches in all competitions, as they moved from last to third in the table, to subside to 45 all out, but they did. George Blackwell with 2-13, and Robert Jagger with 3-11 doing most damage. Kelvedon & Feering are having a shocking run at the moment, and their situation got no better as they went down to Chappel & Wakes Colne by 60 runs. Bryan Patmore, 30 not out, and Brett Patmore, 27 not out, helped Chappel to reach 131-2, and then Bryan took 3-25 as Kelvedon & Feering were bowled out for 71. Shalford moved up into third place after they bowled Helions Bumpstead out for just 40 at the Leisure Centre. Lee Parish taking 4-8. Shalford did lose Russell Dawes for 0 but that was the only point they did let slip as they eased their way to 41-1 in eight overs. Cressing moved into fourth place with a 11 run win over Terling. Terling have not won a league match at the Leisure Centre this season, but have lost only once at Notley. Matthew Hart hit 49 not out, but was helped by his inexperienced team-mates as they closed on 141-2. Terling gave a good account of themselves but that first victory eluded them as they were dismissed for 130. Hart, not content with his batting then claiming 3-23 with the ball.

Boreham and Coggeshall A just a point or two from promotion

Boreham and Coggeshall A both have three matches to play in Division Four this season but now neither of them need win another match as at best High Garrett can only achieve a points total of 133 and they have 131 and 130 respectively. In truth Coggeshall A did not even win in this round of fixtures. The became the victims as Earls Colne won their first league match of the season and this allowed Boreham the opportunity to go ahead of them, a chance that Boreham accepted. The whole scenario had been set up in the opening game at Notley when High Garrett lost to a four man Helions Bumpstead Reserves team. Brett McClintock hit 37 as Helions Bumpstead Reserves were dismissed for 57. Surely High Garrett could achieve the win, but instead they slumped to just 38 all out, with Adrian Stebbing-Cox and sub wicket-keeper Clive Brazier each taking three catches. Earls Colne, who had gained a shock win over Kelvedon & Feering in their last outing then ended their drought in the league with a three wicket victory over Coggeshall A. The former division leaders being restricted to 63-5 before Steve Willsher's 27 not out took Earls Colne to their first win in twelve league matches as they reached 64-3. Boreham gained a five wicket win over Witham Reserves to move one point clear at the top. Witham Reserves scored a respectable 101-3, but Tim Pulham and Rob Hayto then helped Boreham reach 103-1 with three balls to spare. Both retiring after Glenn Hadgraft had been dismissed for 19. Margaretting hit 98 against Shalford Reserves but also lost, as their opponents responded with 99-1.

Bocking Reserves plunder

With not much left to decide in Division Five apart from the destination of the trophy, Bocking Reserves put themselves within three points of taking that honour as they plundered a massive 193-4 against Sampfords Reserves at the Leisure Centre. Darrell May reveling in the freedom to close with 83 not out, with Nick Trigg adding 30 not out and Tim Rayner, 26. Sampfords Reserves could do little to challenge that, and offered little challenge too as they slumped to 22-3 before finally making ito through to 71-4. Braintree Reserves defeated Rayne III's by one wicket thanks to 43 not out from Geoff Eveling, and Coggeshall A Reserves were gifted fifteen points by yet another non-appearance from Halstead.

Halstead no show for the third time this season

Serious doubts about Halstead's continued membership of the League must now be raised following their third "no show" this season when they failed to arrive for their match with Coggeshall A Reserves and also failed to fulfil their officiating duties for the second time. I am sure the League Secretary will be raising the matter with the Treasurer as to whether the lost revenue will be paid, or the League could be faced with a massive loss this season, due to this and the matches lost by withdrawals.