Extract from Chairman’s Report 2009

7th XI

Only played 3 games but could have played more if we could have found opposition.

6th XI

The 6th XI picked up most of last year’s 5th XI fixtures and struggled as a result. Some excellent bowling performances by our colts in this team but the opposition bowling was often too strong for our batting.

Both these teams gave good experience of adult cricket for some of younger colts.

5th XI

The 5th XI performed creditably in their first season in the league for 5th XI winning 7 games and finishing 7th.

4th XI

A reasonable season. Hopeful of promotion at one stage but poor availability in the latter part of the season put paid to that.

3rd XI

Some excellent performances finishing 3rd equal on points with team finishing 2nd but losing out by virtue of greater number of away defeats.

2nd XI

A young side with a real mixture of excellent performances and some not so good. Finished a creditable 4th.

1st XI

Promoted as Champions. Arrival of Imran Shah and Mike Walsh together with better availability of other squad members meant an excellent start to the season but fell away a little in the second half of the season and will need to play as they did early in the season to do well in Division 1 next year.

Sunday XI

Again a very young side but a better season than last year winning 6 league games and losing 2 and winning 6 friendlies and losing 4.

Colts

Under 9

We started the season with very few under 9s but as the season progressed some very talented players arrived and prospects for next year look exceedingly good. Played a few friendlies and did well.

Under 11B

Won 5 games and lost 3.

Under 11A

Won 9 and lost 2. 2nd out of 9 in league.

Under 13B

Won 5 and lost 5. Topped league by virtue of completing all our fixtures.

Under 13A

Won 15, tied 1 and lost 3. Topped league but lost in semi-final with several key players missing.

Under 15B

Playing in a league with other Club’s A teams, Won 3 and lost 5 and came 3rd out of 5 an excellent achievement.

Under 15A

As last year started really well but fell away a little as the season progressed. Won 8 and lost 5 coming 2nd in the league but missing out on a semi-final place by virtue of a inferior run rate.

To summarise:

  • Two of our teams topped their league.
  • Two teams reached round 3 of Essex Cup competition, which is a first for the Club.
  • We were one of only 2 Clubs to field an ‘A’ and a ‘B’ side in all 3 age groups and the only Club with ‘B’ teams to complete all our fixtures. Not only that but our ‘B’ teams played some good cricket, which is testimony to the coaching given and also to our approach to allow players of all abilities to belong to the Club and develop their skills.
  • There are 20 Clubs in South Essex plus several schools chasing 60 places in the boys district teams so on average a club like ours should have 2 or 3 Colts selected. This year 5 boys were selected, which again reflects well on the Club.

Mid-week games

Just a few games. Highlight was winning the Purleigh President’s Day competition.

President’s Day competition

A new format for our own President’s Day saw 8 teams playing mini matches in 2 leagues, followed by semi-finals and a final, which was won by Ingatestone.

Tour

The Club had a very successful tour of the Isle of Wight in August, playing four games at some magnificent venues winning three and losing one game.

Indoor league

Having been promoted to the Premier Division, the standard was clearly higher but the team acquitted themselves satisfactorily.

Women and Girls XI

Together with Rankins CC, the Club entered the Essex & Suffolk league.

Although they lost all their games, their performances improved during the season and towards the end of the season several new young players joined the Club. Quite a number of the opposing teams, who had been playing for several years said they too had struggled in their first season but were complimentary about the improvement during the second half of the season.

It is noteworthy that two of our younger players have been chosen to join the Essex Colts squad.