A disappointing weekend with two wins and four defeats for the Saturday League sides and failure of our batting to achieve fairly moderate targets
T Rippon Mid Essex Premier Division. The 1st XI entertained neighbours Rettendon 1st XI who batted first and scored 169-7 in their 45 overs, Luke Sullivan taking 3-37. An opening stand of 50 between Adam Vyse (35) and Jason Ox (20) gave Rayleigh a promising start but the side collapsed to an all out total of 117 to give visitors victory by 52 runs.
T Rippon Mid Essex League Division 2. The 2nd XI visited Goresbrook 2nd XI, who batting first scored 164-8, Chris Frost taking 3 wickets. Only Callum Ginbey (43) mastered the Goresbrook bowling and the innings ended 12 runs short on 152.
T Rippon Mid Essex League Division 5. The 3rd XI hosted Writtle 2nd XI who batting first were bowled out for 149, Steve Adams taking 3-22 and James Wratten 3-32. This total proved too much for the 3rd XI who only managed to score 89, Mike Law 25* leading the scoring.
T Rippon Mid Essex League Division 7. The 4th XI went to Beaulieu Park to play Wickham who scored 214-7 in their 45 overs, Tom Godfrey taking 2-43. John Wright (63*) and Matt Walker (39) broke the pattern of the day and steered Rayleigh to a 5 wicket victory in the 44th over.
T Rippon Mid Essex League Division 8. The 5th XI were at home to unbeaten Rainham 3rd XI and batting first scored 163-8 in their 40 overs, Mark Stratton (75) and Phil Wolff (28) top scoring. In a tense finish Rainham were restricted to 162-8 to give Rayleigh victory by 1 run, Aby Jose 3-28 and David Hall 2-39 were the pick of the bowlers.
Rippon Mid Essex League Division 10. The 6th XI went to Boreham 2nd XI who batted first and scored 222-7 in their 40 overs, Jack Himpfen -Jones taking 5-47. In reply Rayleigh were bowled out for 99.
Friendly fixture, a very young and inexperienced 7th XI played Westcliff 4th XI at Wickford Memorial Ground. The youngsters bowled and fielded extremely well and bowled Westcliff out for 108, Callum Mayfield and Paul Cox both taking 2-10 and Jack Andrews 2-17. The Rayleigh innings started well reaching 41-1 but the introduction of the Pitchforth Brothers into the attack reduced Rayleigh to 49-9, Alex Pitchforth taking 6-2 off 6 overs. A last wicket stand of 23 added some slight respectability to the final total of 72.
Beaumont Seymour Women & Girls Cricket League. The team hosted Great Waltham and batting first Rayleigh scored 129-3, Sophie Lennox (28), Rebecca Holyoak (26) and Louise Harmsworth (25) all retired. The visitors scored 110-7 in their 20 overs, Rebecca Holyoak taking 3-27.
South Essex District Cricket Board Under 15 West League. Rayleigh Dragons played Belhus and batting first scored126-8 in their 20 overs, Will Wheeler (29) and Toby Turner (25) top scoring. Belhus were bowled for 111 in the final over, Harry Bailey taking 3-13 and Callum Mayfield 3-29 each off 3 overs.
South Essex District Cricket Board Under 15 East League. Rayleigh Eagles played Leigh. Rayleigh batted first and were bowled out for 82, a target Leigh passed for the loss of 1 wicket in the 10th over.