With continuing poor availability expectations were not high this weekend but surprisingly there were four wins for our six Saturday league sides.
T Rippon Mid Essex Premier Division. The 1st XI entertained Brookweald 1st XI in an important relegation match and batting first lost four early wickets for 40 but some good partnerships and quick running between skipper Jason Ox (110*), Luke Sullivan (40), Ian Turnbull (23) and Will Nolde took the total to 281-8. At 146-6 after 30 overs the game looked beyond reach for the visitors but a big hitting 8th wicket partnership of 79 left the visitors needing just 30 off the last 4 overs. However, the last three batsmen were clean bowled in the 41st and 42nd overs to leave Rayleigh winners by 26 runs. Phil Everitt taking 3-30, Luke Sullivan 2-27 and Will Wheeler 2-48.
T Rippon Mid Essex League Division 1. The 2nd XI travelled to Writtle 1st XI who batted first and scored 234-5 Chris Frost taking 2-40. Only Chris Frost (25) contributed to an all-out score of 110 for the visitors on a crumbling wicket.
T Rippon Mid Essex League Division 5. The 3rd XI hosted Tillingham 2nd XI and batting first scored 175-10 in their 45 overs, Steve Gosling (48), Mark Bailey (36) and Mike Law (36) leading the scoring. In reply Tillingham were always up with the run rate but two low scoring overs bowled at the end by Steve Adams (3-31) left the visitors 5 runs short at 170.
T Rippon Mid Essex League Division 7. The 4th XI went to Rainham 3rd XI, who batting first scored 147-9, Mihir Patel taking 3-21, Cameron Mantle 3-47 and Matt Walker 2-28. In reply Rayleigh passed this score for the loss of 4 wickets, Owen Davies (34*), Matt Bumpus (33) and Sam Perks (32*) top scoring.
T Rippon Mid Essex League Division 8. The 5th XI travelled to Chelmsford to play Beaulieu Park 1st XI who batted first and totalled 249-9, Duncan Bond taking 5-53. Once again Rayleigh found runs hard to come by and finished on 156-3, Steve Rothon (60*), Simon Lennox (39) leading the scoring.
T Rippon Mid Essex League Division 10. The 6th XI hosted Hornchurch 4th XI XI and batting first scored 208-6, Jack Himpfen-Jones (51) and Dave Turner 36) and all top 5 batsmen scoring over 23. Some excellent fielding restricted the visitors to 148-8, including a direct run out by Sam Skillett of the Hornchurch captain. Kuldeep Paik (2-20) and Sam Skillett (2-26) lead the bowling to give the team their first victory of the season.
Beaumont Seymour League South Division. A depleted Rayleigh Women & Girls XI entertained a strong Old Chelmsfordians side, who batted first and rattled up 166-3 in their 20 overs. This target proved well beyond Rayleigh who finished on 81-6.