A rather disappointing weekend with two wins and four defeats for our Saturday league sides and with one week of the League season to go the 2nd XI are relegated to Division 3 but all other teams are safely in mid table.
T Rippon Mid Essex Premier Division. The 1st XI went to play Canvey Island 1st XI and batting first scored 205-8, Jason Ox (57) and Matt Verrinder (29) leading the scoring. This seemed a defendable total but Rayleigh found wickets hard to take and the home side passed the target in the 44th over for the loss of two wickets.
T Rippon Mid Essex League Division 2. The 2nd XI entertained High Roding 1st XI in a key relegation battle, which Rayleigh needed to win to have an outside chance of avoiding the drop. They bowled the visitors out for 181, skipper Chris Frost taking 5-26. Once again, however, the team’s batting let them down and they subsided to an all-out total of 141, Colin Mayor (29), James Ellis (21) and Kelly Castle (21).
T Rippon Mid Essex League Division 5. The 3rd XI went to top of the table Willow Herbs 1st XI and batting first scored 169-8, Steve Adams (40), Mark Bailey (38) and Neil Noble (29*). The home side knocked off the required runs in the 30th over losing four wickets, Lee Lambert 2-28.
T Rippon Mid Essex League Division 6. The 4th XI hosted Galleywood 2nd XI, and batting first scored 277-5, Matt Walker (96), John Wright (73) and Simon Harwood (37). The visitors were not phased by this large total and were within striking distance of winning but in the end they fell 15 runs short having lost seven wickets, Aaron Mayfield taking 3-37.
T Rippon Mid Essex League Division 9. Great Totham 3rd XI were the visitors to the 5th XI and batting first were bowled out for 157, Jamie Coleman taking 4-33 and Steve Rothon 2-16. Phil Hammond (78*) and Duncan Baldwin (32*) put together an unbeaten partnership of 161 to win by 10 wickets in the 24th over.
T Rippon Mid Essex League Division 10. The 6th XI travelled to top of the table Springfield 5th XI and scored 155-7 in their 40 overs, Richard Verrinder (52) and Dave Turner (28) started well with an opening partnership of 75 but were restricted by some very tight bowling. The home side passed this score in the 24th over for the loss of 1 wicket with some high class batting from their young players.
The 7th XI hosted Old Chelmsfordians 5th XI at Lake Meadows in Billericay in a memorable game for the Dawbarn Family with grandfather, two sons and two grandsons playing for Rayleigh. Batting first Andy Dawbarn (88). Will Dawbarn (74), James Dawbarn (31) and Louise Harmsworth (26*) helped post 285-5 in their 35 overs. The visitors batted rather more sedately to finish on 129-6, Umar Khan 2-11 and Katrina Mayfield 2-39.
