Despite another wet and bitterly cold Saturday afternoon all five of Rayleigh Cricket Club’s league sides played and finished their games but recorded only one win.
The 1st XI visited Ingatestone and bowled the home side out for 135, Mike Law and Jon Cook taking 3 wickets each. What looked to be a relatively easy target proved to be almost too much but in a nail biting finish a tenth wicket partnership between Mike Law and Mike Walsh saw Rayleigh home by 1 wicket. Jon Cook top scored with 58.
In a game shortened to 35 overs the 2nd XI batted first and only totalled 110, Paul Dudmish scoring 28. Woodham Mortimer passed this total for the loss of 2 wickets.
The 3rd XI visited Mountnessing who batted first and scored 177 all out, Tony Catling 5-39 and Geoerge Barker 4-32 being the pick of the bowlers. Only Alex Jones (27) troubled the bowlers as Rayleigh collapsed to 77 all out.
Galleywood 2nd XI came to play the 4th XI and scored 205-4. Another tight finish looked likely whilst Brad Walker (57) and Simon Harwood (51) were at the crease but the required run rate increased in a shortened 40 over game and Rayleigh came up 11 runs short.
The 5th XI were put in to bat by Old Chelmsfordians 4th XI and for the second week running found the bowling of the opposition too good and totalled only 99, a score OCs passed for the loss of 3 wickets.
The Sunday XI entertained Old Chelmsfordians, who scored 217-7, Liam Druce taking 3-45. In reply Adam Vyse (101) scored a maiden century and Neil Dobson 27 to lead Rayleigh to victory by 3 wickets with 2 balls to spare.
The Women and Girls XI visited Great Waltham for their first league match on a dark and cold evening. Great Waltham scored 149-6, Michelle King taking 5 wickets. In the gloom Rayleigh totalled 68-5 (Sophie Lennox 21*).
The new midweek XI started with a win against Civic Centre scoring 101-9. Civic Centre replied with 81 all out, Ian Bryant taking 5-19.
The Under 15As played Rayleigh Fairview in the Peters Cup 1st Round. George Barker(33*) and Lloyd Sabatin (34) led the side to 109-3, Fairview replying with 98-9, Luke Keeley 2-9. The Under 13As played Southend on Sea Echo Monarchs Trojans (SOSEMT) in the Bradford Cup 1st Round and scored 114-2, Steven Lynch (30*). SOSEMT were bowled out for 29. Four South East Essex District Board league matches were played on Sunday morning. Benfleet batted first against the Under 13As and scored 75-9, a total the U13As passed with the loss of 5 wickets, Steven Lynch top scoring with 25. The Under 11As won against Benfleet U11s by 49 runs. The Under 13Bs lost to Hadleigh U13Bs by 10 wickets and the Under 11Bs lost to Orsett U11bs by 1 run.