Under15As

Batsman of the year: Adam Dobson
Bowler of the year: Nathan Healey
Most Improved player: Jack Vile
Players’ Player of the Year: Jason Ox

Under 15Bs

Batsman of the year: Andy Scogings
Bowler of the year: Lloyd Sabatini
Fielder of the year: Jon Chase
Most Improved player: Ben James
Players’ Player of the Year: Andy Scogings

Under 13As

Batsman of the year: George Barker
Bowler of the year: Christian Humphries
Fielder of the year: Matt Jahanfar
Most Improved player: Hugh Kirby
Players’ Player of the Year: Christian Humphries

Under 13Bs

Batsman Of The Year: Tom Peppiatt
Bowler Of The Year: Jai Patel
Fielder Of The Year: Dan Harrington
Most Improved Player: Connor Brooks
Players’ Player Of The Year: Sam Martin

Under 11As

Batsman of the year: Steven Lynch
Bowler of the year: Josh Jones
Fielder of the year: Charles King
Most Improved player: Christopher Hall
Players’ Player of the Year: Luke Sullivan

Under 11Bs

Batsman of the year: Neil Kelly
Bowler of the year: Owen Brooks
Fielder of the year: Callum Bishop
Most Improved player: Callum Bond
Players’ player of the Year: Michael Crichton

Congratulations to all the above. I know from the coaches and managers said that it was a very difficult year choosing the award winners since so many showed so much promise.

Rayleigh 287–6 net 219

Westcliff 282–3 net 258

Result: Lost by 39 runs

We won the toss and decided to bat first. Max and Connor opened the batting they got off to a steady start with some cracking shots going for 4. Max eventually got out to a good ball. At the end of their four overs both of them had put on a score of 205 against some accurate and challenging bowling.

Next we had Chris and Matt come in. Chris played very well and was scoring some well needed runs. At the other end Matt was batting comfortably and the bowlers just couldn’t get him out. Then Chris was out to an unlucky catch behind but he kept his head up and played the rest of the innings sensibly. It was good to see when they both came out they had a smile on their face which is what the game is all about.

The third pair to come in were Mihir and Charles. Charles hit his first ball for 4 and kept that kind of attitude up until he was bowled to a ball that may have got Graham Napier out. Mihir played an extremely good innings with a good score of 5. At the end of their partnership they reached 228.

After them in came the six hitter Steven Lynch with super brave Alex. Steven took strike and played a defensive innings then he creamed one straight to the covers it was an awesome catch. Then it was Alex’s turn he was hit hard in the chest and bravely decided to carry on.

Finaly it was Josh’s and my turn, I took the strike and played defensively. Then I faced what was an excellent ball and was completely out smarted. Then Josh was out to a ball that just kept low. It was a disappointing end although I felt real guilty when I realised that Josh only faced three balls and I had the rest!

It was time to bowl and Matt and I bowled the opening two overs which were both maidens. Matt bowled another over which only went for two runs. Charles replaced me and his overs didn’t go for much at all. Steven did the trick with a wicket which we really deserved. Chris bowled well by not bowling any wides or no balls. That pair got their team to 208. We were on top.

Next we had Josh bowling, he had a tough batting pair and he kept them down and Alex helped by keeping things tight at the other end. I bowled my next over that was a wicket maiden and then Connor took a wicket and we were back in the game. The last batting pair didn’t lose a wicket despite Mihir’s and Max’s good bowling. We had lost although we didn’t give up at any time despite some bad injuries to Matt and Alex.

A proud performance.

Mihir Patel, our star spin bowler, gave up a day at Thorpe Park with his family today just to play for us so he deserves a big thank you!

Some pictures of the match are available on the 2009 Pictures Page.

Rayleigh B 281–6 net 233
Wickford B 260–3 net 236

Result Lost by 3 runs

Rayleigh team: James Buckley, Henry Hands, Callum Bond, Callum Bishop, Joseph Peppiat, Matthew Apps, Owen Brooks, Oscar Driscoll, Michael Crichton (capt, wkt), Neil Kelly.

Rayleigh batted first with James and Henry the first pair in. They were up against some accurate Wickford bowling, just one wide conceded from the first four overs. Henry hit the first four of the game as these two put on a partnership of eight runs for the loss of one wicket. Next pair in were the two Callums. They both played steadily throughout their overs, though neither batsman managed to score off the bat. However with the wides now more frequent a partnership of 21 ensued.

Joseph and Matthew were next in. Again runs off the bat were difficult to come by, but both boys batted sensibly. Matthew unfortunatel;y was the second Rayleigh wicket to fall in the 11th over.

Wickford were beginning to apply the brakes again. Owen and Oscar, like the two pairs before them, struggled to trouble the scorers, but again both boys batted competently enough to show that the runs will soon come from the bat. A partnership of 10 looked helpful until Owen was given out for a catch behind on the last ball of their partnership.

Last pair in were Michael and Neil and soon the runs began to flow. Neil hit two fours off the 17th over, Michael then got in on the act with a boundary in the next over and with two overs left Rayleigh were in a very healthy position of 271 for three, nett 247. In the penultimate over, Neil hit a magnificent six over mid wicket, but then the wheels became somewhat dislodged as three Rayleigh wickets fell in the last 11 balls.

Rayleigh innings ended on 281 for six, nett 233.

Matthew opened the bowling for Rayleigh and just conceded two with a wide. He then delivered a fine maiden over. Callum Bond went for 14 but got Rayleigh’s first wicket with a magnificent caught and bowled. Oscar and Owen bowled very tidily with just nine coming from the next four overs, Oscar giving the ball good flight and Owen showing a very natural action that can only improve in the weeks ahead.

In the ninth and tenth over, Rayleigh then seemed to take control with Callum Bishop and Neil Kelly each grabbing a wicket, both batsmen being bowled. However the scorebaord kept ticking over and it was clear to see this was going to be a nail biting finish.

James and Joseph were the next bowlers. Joseph showed good composure with just three runs coming from his two overs. James couldn’t quite find the accuracy that got him a wicket in last week’s friendly at Westcliff.

Joseph was brought back for the last over with Wickford leading by nett 3 runs. A wicket now and the game would surely be Rayleigh’s. Joseph bowled every ball on line and well pitched up securing Rayleigh’s fifth maiden over of the innings but it was not quite enough. Dogged resistance from the last Wickford pair secured the win for the visitors despite scoring 21 runs less than the home side.

Well done to both teams in a very closely fought match.