Mixed fortunes for our six Saturday League sides with three wins, a tie and two defeats.
T Rippon Mid Essex Premier Division. The 1st XI entertained in form Canvey Island 1st XI, who elected to bat first. The visitors struggled against some tight bowling and fielding and were bowled out for 132 in the 43rd over, Ian Bryant taking 3-14. Ben Francis (58) and Jason Ox (28*) led the Rayleigh reply and they won in the 35th over for the loss of four wickets.
T Rippon Mid Essex League Division 2. The 2nd XI travelled to play High Roding 1st XI, neither side having won a game yet this season. The home side batted first and scored 199-7 in their 45 overs, Chris Frost taking 5-59. Three players made useful contributions to the reply, Steven Lynch (62) Mark Acraman (57*) and Andy Impey (42) but requiring two runs off the last ball the batsmen were only able to run a single leg bye to finish as a tie on 199-8 leaving both teams still looking for a first victory this season.
T Rippon Mid Essex League Division 5. The 3rd XI hosted top of the table Willow Herbs 1st XI, who batting first were bowled out in the last over for 211. Sam Verrinder taking 3-30 and David Hall 3-49. In reply Jack Nolde (107) scored a maiden century, supported by Kalpesh Patel (41) but sadly their efforts were in vain as the innings ended on 208-8 to lose by 3 runs.
T Rippon Mid Essex League Division 6. The 4th XI went to play Galleywood 2nd XI, who batted first and were bowled out for 129. Mihir Patel taking 3-24 and Tom Godfrey 2-4 off 7 overs. Skipper Matt Walker (56*) and Richard Verrinder (21) led the reply with an opening partnership of 81 and the team passed the target in the 35th over for the loss of 3 wickets.
T Rippon Mid Essex League Division 9. The 5th XI travelled to play Great Totham 3rd XI, who batted first and found scoring very difficult ending on 115-6 from their allotted 40 overs, Jamie Coleman taking 1-9 off 9 overs and Sam Skillett 1-8 off 7 overs. Similarly, Rayleigh found runs hard to come by but Sam Martin (25) and Sam Levett (23*) guided the visitors to a one wicket victory in the 32nd over.
T Rippon Mid Essex League Division 10. The 6th XI batted first against visiting top of the table Springfield 5th XI and were bowled out for 158, Jack Andrews (35), Jack Himpfen-Jones (31) and Dave Turner (25) top scoring. Springfield passed this total for the loss of 6 wickets in the 34th over, Mark Callaway (2-31) and Jack Andrews (2-52).
The 7th XI went to Admirals Park in Chelmsford to play Old Chelmsfordians 5th XI and batting first were skittled out for 49 on a pitch with very little bounce. The home side also found runs hard to come by and lost five wickets before passing their target, all five wickets being taken by Louise Harmsworth for 19 runs.
Beaumont Seymour League. The Women and Girls XI went to Maldon and batting first scored 83-2, Sophie Lennox (25*) and Gill Collins (20*), Maldon scored 67-9 in their overs, Lou Frost (3-8), Louise Harmsworth (3-16) and Freya Barnard (2-13).
South Essex District Board Under13 East Section semi-final. Playing against Westcliff the visitors batted first and scored 100-5, Aaron Mayfield taking 1-4 off his 4 overs. the other wickets being shared around. James Balkwill (23) and Jake Ashworth (22) led Rayleigh to a 7 wicket victory in the 16th over.