Benfleet: 239 for 4, net 219 (Callum Bishop 2-1-1-1, Harry Mole 2-1-4-1)
Rayleigh: 312 for 3, net 297 (Henry Hands 16, Alex Dawkins 14, Craig Smith 13, Jess Walker 10)
Rayleigh won by 7 wickets

Rayleigh team: Callum Bishop, Callum Bond, Craig S, Harry Mole, Jordan J, Cameron Mac, Jamie C, Jess W, Henry H, Alex D

Callum won the toss for the first time this season and put Benfleet into bat.

Once again the Rayleigh bowling was of the utmost efficiency and not one bowler conceded double figures for the first time this year. The pick of the bowlers were Callum Bishop (2-1-1-1), Harry Mole (2-1-4-1) & Craig S (2-0-5-1) and on his U11 debut Jess W bowled two maidens. Jess then stunned us all with a supersonic throw from the boundary. I wish I had his arm!

A target of 219 was, on recent form, perfectly getable, and the lads, were instructed to bat positively, not cautiously, and don’t be afraid of losing wickets because we had the batting ability to score big. The instructions were carried out to the letter and we racked up our biggest total so far this year of 312 runs, net 297.

Alex led the way with 19 including three consecutive fours, but lost his wicket once for a fine net score of 14. Henry top scored with a net 16, Craig a net 13 & Jess completed a fine debut with two fours in a net 10.

Altogether another great result.

Thanks again to all parents for your continued support

Rayleigh: 274 for 1, net 269
Wickford: 252 for 7, net 217 (Harry Donoghue 2-1-1-3; Craig Smith 2-0-7-2)
Rayleigh won by 52 runs

Team: Callum Bishop, Craig S, James B, Cameron Mac, Adam F, Jordan J, Harry M, Harry D, Alex D, David W.

Callum lost the toss once again and so Rayleigh were asked to bat. Although the runs didn’t flow quite as readily as last week, the boys kept the scoreboard ticking over with singles and, more importantly, just lost one wicket all innings.

There was much discussion during the drinks interval as to whether 269 would be enough. Wickford had posted some good scores to date and we had to make sure we kept our concentration both when bowling and fielding.

That we did…….and some!

This win was down to all ten bowlers bowling good line and length, and conceding the fewest extras (20) we have conceded to date. To be honest, the bowlers who didn’t get wickets could, on any other day, have seen the bails come off or the dropped catches (3) held. Having said that, Harry M and Adam did hold a catch each and we also ran two of the Wickford batsmen out.

No bowler went for more than nine runs in his two overs, the pick being Harry D who returned 3 wickets for 1 run, and Craig S who got 2 for 7.

Once again the boys were a credit to the club and went about their cricket in an enthusiastic and very positive way. I cannot tell you how proud I was of them today.

After the game I had a text from the Wickford manager. He didn’t have to send it to me, but I thought I’d like to share it with you. It read: “Thanks for the game. I thought your boys played excellently and thoroughly deserved to win, and thanks for playing a fair game. Look forward to seeing you later in the season.”

Rayleigh: 294 for 2, net 284
Leigh: 287 for 3, net 272
Rayleigh won by 12 runs

Rayleigh team: Callum Bishop, Adam F, Callum Bond, Craig S, Harry D, Harry M, Jamie C, Jordan J, Joseph P, Liam H.

Rayleigh upset the form book with a 12 run win against top of the table Leigh at Rawreth Lane on a glorious Summer’s morning.

Callum Bishop (10) and Liam got the ball rolling, quite literally, with a dynamic opening partnership of 25 runs (16 from the bat) before a suicidal run cost a wicket on the last ball of their partnership. That set-back apart, the running between wickets, calling and backing up was of a truly high standard today, with every batsman playing his part. Those who were present in last week’s win, clearly grasped the nettle left to them by the four A team players who helped us out, and, in turn they passed on that confidence to the younger players. A very slick batting performance all round.

We had a big score to defend and went about it in a confident way. Jordan, exorcised the demons from our opening day defeat at Orsett and bowled some super line and length. He got his just reward with a wicket and returned 1-9 in three overs. Liam and Adam (a late replacement for the poorly Cameron Mac) got a wicket each and Callum Bishop’s neat spell of 3-1-6-0 ensured we were in control for the majority of the match.

Jamie, Joseph, Craig, Harry’s M & D and Callum number two all contributed to this win as well. It was a true team performance.

Well done boys!

Raleigh 352–2 (Net 342)
Gidea Park & Romford 248–11 (Net 193)
Rayleigh won by 149 runs

Team: Conner S, Matt D (Capt), Mahir P, Josh J, Alex B, Alex D, Harry M, Craig S, Owen B and Henry H

Wow — what a morning at a sun baked Rawreth Lane as we welcomed Romford & Gidea Park for a friendly — thanks to Matt Kirby who has worked so very hard to ensure that any gaps in our schedule this year are filled. Skipper for the day Matt D won the toss and decided to put the opposition into bat an what followed was Rayleigh’s best fielding performance of the season thus far, with no dropped catches, plenty of encouragement and backing up and excellent line and length bowling.

Continue reading “U11A vs Gidea Park & Romford 23/5/2010” →

Rayleigh U11A 284 – 2   (Net 274)
Benfleet U11A  260 – 7  (Net 225)
Rayleigh won by 49 runs.

Team: Conner S (Capt), Matt D, Mahir P, Josh J, Alex B, Alex D, Harry M, Craig S, Owen B and Henry H

On what turned out to be a wet and bitterly cold Sunday morning at Rawreth the U11A team welcomed local rivals Benfleet in the first league encounter of the season.

Losing the toss we were asked to bat by Benfleet on what turned out to be a slow wicket where timing the ball was to prove difficult and with the outfield wet it would take some really good shots to get any return. Skipper Conner and debut boy Alex D opened the batting and played very well indeed accumulating runs and not losing a wicket against a good opening spell from Benfleet. In fact we batted very well indeed as a team, good running, sound defense and patience proving to be just what was needed as the runs began to flow. Good shots from Alex B, Josh J and Matt D all finding the boundaries and great support  and running from Henry H, Harry M, Mahir P, Owen B and Craig S saw us reach a very demanding total of 284 – losing just two wickets along the way for a total of 274.

Benfleet took the field in their reply and were soon in trouble against a pacey opening spell from Matt D and Harry M who clean bowled the Benfleet opener in his second over. This was followed by some great work in the field as good work from initially Conner S and then Josh J saw two further wickets fall to run outs.

Good spells from all the lads – all bowling their two over slots economically with not many wides saw Benfleet lose a further 4 wickets before the end of their innings with wickets for Henry H (bowled), Alex B (bowled), Conner S (bowled) and Josh J (bowled).

Really pleasing was the way the boys supported and encouraged each other and the way we collectively fielded as a team with good backing up and ground fielding.

A great start to the campaign and we look forward to our next league match against Rankins later in the month.

Rayleigh 268 for 4, net 248
Orsett 274 for 5, net 249
Rayleigh lost by 5 wickets

Considering it was the first game of the season, the lads played very well and gave maximum effort. A little improvement in looking for the quick singles and some more accurate bowling and we would have won the game.

We had a smallish total to defend but some very good bowling from Callum Bishop and Cameron MacDonald kept us in the hunt. James Buckley got the other wicket and Jordan Jacobs took a neat catch at slip.

We need to try and hit the bad ball when batting. If we can get in the habit of doing that, the runs will flow easier and the games will (hopefully) end in victories instead of narrow defeats.

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