2007 Season Review

The Firsts started with mixed results – two wins out of four in May was not promotion form, especially after being bowled out by Terling for just 106 and then by Fairview for 120. New signing Ian Bryant showed what a good acquisition he was, with 6 for 28 against South Woodham Ferrers, but the batting wasn\’t firing, apart from Chris Eldridge making 80 against Boreham.

One of the wettest Junes in recent memory hit the Firsts hard – they had started to find their form with two wins, firstly against Pegasus & Corringham, with Danny White scoring 81 not out, and then followed up by posting a huge 327 for 4 at home to Havering-atte-Bower, which saw Danny and Chris Eldridge putting on 246 for the 1st wicket, with Danny going on to make 181 not out. The next three games were then abandoned due to rain when many other games around the county were completed.

Once the weather cleared up, there was a narrow defeat by Boreham by two wickets, despite five wickets from Richard Abley, followed by a win against Terling thanks to another ton Danny White and an all-round performance from Jon Cook scoring 65 and taking 4 for 53. South Woodham Ferrers were then beaten and then Fairview, with Jon Cook taking another 4 wickets in that match.

The side were now unstoppable and recorded a further five straight wins in the final run in, with another 300-plus score, this time against Danbury, Jon Cook making his maiden Rayleigh ton in the match. A final five-wicket win against Navestock thanks to 6 for 41 from Jim Ewing sealed the Division 3 title.

Despite the bad weather, the Seconds completed all five of their matches in June, winning three and losing two. Andy James took 4 for 39 to help defeat Fairview, and Luke Hedges (79) and Marcus Cornish (78) put on 139 for the 4th wicket in the win at Great Totham. A minor slump then followed, with the side being bowled out twice without recording a single batting point, but then Willie hit back with 80 against Ingatestone to end the losing streak.

July started off with a tied match against promotion rivals Brookweald, continued with wins against Foulness and South Woodham Ferrers, with Luke Hedges scoring 103 and 4 for 15 from Terry Tofts, and finished off with a wagging tail of Donaghue, Gilmore, Tofts and Lovejoy to prevent embarrassment at the hands of bottom of the division Roxwell Blues.

With only one loss in their last five matches, the Seconds finished top by 27 points. Matthew Gilmore took 4 for 40 in a close 3-run win against Fairview, Steve Adams scored 108 not out at OCs, Terry Tofts took another 4-wicket haul against Purleigh, and finally, Mark Cane took 4 for 22 to dismiss Ingatestone for just 100.

The Thirds found life harder in Division 9 after promotion last season, but picked up two wins against Springfield and Pegasus, and were unlucky to lose at Rayne, but were severely seen off by last season\’s rivals Canvey Island. On the plus side, the younger players made their mark early – Andy Impey scored a 50 in his first game and Callum Ginbey made 64 not out in the win at Pegasus, after James Robinson blowing away the opposition with 5 for 54 in the same match.

The team were on the end of batting blitz when Mountnessing visited, and then the batting was humilated at Boreham after the top six were dismissed with barely a run on the board, although the bowling of Herbert and Bush nearly pulled off an unlikely victory. A 28-run loss to bottom side Woodham Mortimer and then an abandonement at Writtle when victory looked likely left the Thirds at the wrong end of the table. A final win in June by less than reputable means eased the relegation pressure on the side.

A change of captaincy and the majority of the team that started the season being ousted in favour of ex-First and Second teamers didn\’t seem to help matters in July. Only one win in four left the 3s in a relegation battle. James Ellis\’s 97 against Rayne was a high point, and then 280 for 6 against Pegasus & Corringham, with fifties from Andy Lynch and James Robinson, restored some confidence.

Callum Ginbey scored his first career hundred against Mountnessing, but was once again on the losing side, however wins in the last four matches of the season lifted the side into an unlikely 4th place. Callum finished off the league season in style with 102 at Danbury, with fifties also from James Robinson and Martin Sanderson, to post a season\’s best of 288 for 4.

The Fourths had just missed out on league status, but with new captain Paul Dudmish in charge, they were a competitive team. There were three wins in May, a rejuvenated Brad Walker scoring two fifties and son Matt Walker taking 5 for 24 against Great Baddow. June saw three wins overall, the batting steadied by the experienced Doctor backed up by bowling performances from the youngsters, such as 5 for 12 from Adam Vyse at Eastwood, and 4 for 29 from Lyndon Filby at Westcliff.

There were two wins and a draw in July. Richard Verrinder scored a personal Rayleigh-best 94 at Hutton, Daryl & Jason Ox put on 50 for the 10th wicket, doubling the score in the process against Ford Sports, allowing Lyndon Filby the opportunity to take his first 5-wicket haul for just 25 runs, and then Paul Spratt blasted 104 runs in a 4th XI record 225-run win versus Billericay Fifths, the opposition being bowled out for just 20 runs.

The Fourths then won their last five matches, with an impressive 171-run win against Springfield Fifths, a five-wicketwin against Nazeing Common, with Matt Verrinder taking a personal best 5 for 17, a seven-wicket victory against Cassowries thanks to 4 for 17 from Adam Dudmish, a six-wicket win versus North Weald and a five-wicket win against Liberty Casuals, this time with Simon Harwood making 70. A final record of won 14, lost 4 and drawn 1 showed that the Fourths were now more than ready to take on league cricket.

Three wins and a defeat followed in June, Chris Grob scored another fifty against Havering-atte-Bower 4ths, and Phil Hammond hit his first hundred with 104 at Billericay St John\’s. Simon Lennox scored his first fifty in the same match and Chris Grob then continued his run of form with a 64, again against Havering-atte-Bower. Wins then followed against Springfield 5ths and Eastwood 4ths, Darren Smith scoring 68 not out in the latter match.

In August, Fairview 3rds were beaten, then Great Baddow 3rds were seen off with fifties from Darren Smith and Steve Connett and 4 for 9 from Phil Hammond. Ben Stevens took 5 for 17 after Rayleigh only managed 60 all out against Chelmsford 5ths, Mike Humphrey took 5 for 18 in a win against Cassowries,then Neil Henson and Phil Hammaond both scored hundreds in a total of 291 for 6 against Billericay St John\’s. 11 wins and 6 losses in the season illustrated that the club really had strength in depth now.

Performances of note were George Simmonett\’s 63 against Hutton 5ths, Murray Hall and Tom Hughes both getting fifties against Great Baddow 3s, bowling Hockley 4ths out for just 72, Steve Nicholls\’ 6 for 19 at Harlow Thirds, Ben Ward\’s 4 for 82 against Havering-atte-Bower 4s, and 71 from Richard Dawbarn in a 125-run win against South Loughton 3rds.

The team were undefeated in July – Darren Smith scored a personal best 98 at Ingatestone, and Leigh-on-Sea were hammered by 214 runs after Rayleigh posted 304 for 4, with fifties from Matt Nobes, James Donaghue and Danny White. Matt Gilmore completed the rout with 4 wickets for just 5 runs.

August was a quiet month for the team, just the one win over Mount, with Ian Bryant hitting a 20-ball fifty, and a draw against Springfield. John Wright made a rare Sunday appearance at Dunmow, blasting 122 not out in 87 balls, guiding the side to a 2-wicket win. Next came a record-breaking score of 346 for 6 against Margaretting, Darren Smith scored 81, John Stirk 91 and Danny White 56. A six-wicket win followed against Rettendon, then a rare loss against Battlesbridge, and finally the season was rounded off at Navestock with 131 not out by Danny White in a drawn match. A record of 11 wins, 3 draws and 3 defeats for the season meant that Sunday cricket was alive and well once again at Rayleigh and looking good for next year\’s inaugral Mid-Essex Sunday League.