Weekly Round Up (w/e 2nd July)

Last week heralded a much improved week of results for the club with wins for the Evening League XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI and 5th XI. It was also great to see so many members down the club on Saturday evening. Many thanks to BBQ Secretary, Paul Harmsworth.

Please note, this weeks round up is slightly more précised than usual.

We’ve got some key dates for your diary over the coming months. More information will be cascaded to members in the coming weeks. If you are interested in playing in any of the Presidents Week fixtures, please email info@rayleighcc.com or contact Brad Walker or Tom Peppiatt directly.

The President Day annual fixture this year will be between an Under-21 side (captained by Sam Harmsworth) and a Presdients/Committee XI (captained by President Brad Walker).

There were some fine individual performances last week, including:

• Steve Adams – 78* (retired) from 62 balls (12 fours, 2 sixes)
• Steven Lynch – 73 from 84 balls (15 fours)
• James Isherwood – 58 from 56 balls (10 fours)
• Phil Wolff – 57* (retired)
• Terry Martin – 57 from 77 balls (8 fours, 2 sixes)
• Kuldeep Paik – 54* from 49 balls (7 fours)
• Sam Skillett – 48 from 21 balls (6 fours, 2 sixes)

• Ian Bryant – 6-0-36-4
• Richard Nolde – 8-1-26-3
• Jake Ashworth – 6-1-8-3
• Ryan Hart – 6-0-24-3
• Steve Adams – 7-0-37-3
• Duncan Bond – 8-0-56-3
• Phil Everitt – 4-0-9-3

We are now half way through the league season, and the standings are as follows:

Team	Position	Total Points	Gap to Leaders
1st XI	9th	111	59
2nd XI	6th	83	75
3rd XI	2nd	183	3
4th XI	6th	126	19
5th XI	4th	125	67
6th XI	5th	100	106

Availability of late has been poor, so please ensure you are keeping your team captain(s) up to date with your weekly availability for fixtures. Although the club is in a much better position than last year, we want to keep the momentum from the first half of the season and help teams push for promotion in their respective leagues.

Due to time limitations, this weeks summary of results only includes adult Saturday games.

The 1st XI hosted Old Chelmsfordians. Batting first, Rayleigh could only muster 137 all out thanks to some tight bowling from the opposition. Sam Harmsworth top scored with 39 from 45 balls. In reply, OC’s knocked off the runs in just 20 overs. Sam Verrinder was the pick of the bowlers, taking two wickets (5-0-23-2). Rayleigh lost by 7 wickets.

The 2nd XI travelled to Belfairs park to play Eastwood in a must win game. Eastwood won the toss and asked Rayleigh to bat, posting 191-9 from 45 overs. Steve Lynch top scored with 73 from 84 balls, supported by Neil Noble (43) and Richard Nolde (31). Eastwood lost wickets throughout their innings and were bowled out for 174. Richard Nolde (8-1-26-3) and Jake Ashworth (6-1-8-3) were the pick of the bowlers. Rayleigh won by 17 runs and secured a much needed 24 points.

On the back of their first loss of the season, the 3rd XI made the trip to Woodham Mortimer in the hopes of continuing winning ways. Woodham asked Rayleigh to bat first, as we posted 184-6 from 45 overs. James Isherwood (58) led the charge, supported by James Balkwill (43) and Henry Murrell (36*). Woodham took the game to it’s final ball, but couldn’t chase the total down, finishing on 182-9. Ryan Hart was the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets (6-0-24-3). A massive well done to James ‘Pads’ Balkwill for clutching the most ridiculous catch Captain Nunn had ever witnessed in his cricketing career (his words, not mine). Rayleigh won by 2 runs.

The 4th XI welcomed Hornchurch Athletic at the Old Ground, seeking a win to put them back into the top area of the table. Captain Peps won the toss and batted first. Rayleigh started poorly, losing quick wickets against fairly average bowling. Stranded at 53-5, nearly all hope was lost – but thanks to some lusty blows from Sam Skillett (48 from 21 balls), Rayleigh made it 115-6. Unfortunately, another three wickets were lost for no runs, but a 82 run partnership between Mike Law (37*) and Geoff Morgan (34*) for the 10th wicket helped the 4th team to 211-9. Hornchurch started aggressively and took the battle to the opening bowlers. Thanks to some good bowling, Hornchurch needed 9 an over for the last 10 overs. Thanks to some big hitting from their number seven batter, and some quick running at the death, Hornchurch managed to clutch two runs from the final ball and won by three wickets. Rayleigh lost by three wickets in a game they really should have won.

The 5th XI entertained Galleywood on the third pitch at Rawreth Lane. Galleywood won the toss and batted first, posting 215-3. In response, despite regular wickets, Rayleigh amassed the runs and finished with an over to spare on 219-6. Terry Martin (57) and Kuldeep Paik (54*) led the scoring. Rayleigh won by 4 wickets.

The 6th XI travelled to Chelmsford to play top of the league Old Chelmsfordians, who won the toss and elected to bat. OC’s made a patient start to their innings, seeing out three maiden overs before they started the run acceleration. With the score on 48, three quick wickets then fell. Duncan Bond dismissed Daniel Cranmer and Toby Scarfe in successive overs and Steve Adams got the wicket of dangerous opening bat Edwards. However, a 99 run partnership between David Scarfe (51) and Oli Speakman (54) put OC’s back in the driving seat. Charlie Speakman then added 43 quick runs to help OC’s to their total of 245. Steve Adams (7-0-37-3) and Duncan Bond (8-0-56-3) were the pick of the Rayleigh bowlers. In reply, Rayleigh made a steady start, but some very accurate and lively quick bowling proved too good for most of the Rayleigh batters. Steve Adams top scored with 78 before he had to retire injured. He was ably supported by Phil Hammond who scored 18, in a partnership of 57 which briefly quietened the rather vocal OC’s wicket-keeper David Scarfe for a few overs, as concern seemed to creep in to the home side. Once both players were out, OC’s proved too strong. Skipper, Paul Osborne was the pick of the bowlers returning figures of 8-1-26-2, to maintain OC’s unbeaten record in Division 11. Rayleigh lost by 63 runs.

The 7th XI visited Broomhills for a friendly fixture against Old Chelmsfordians 5th XI. Batting first, the opposition posted 164-8. Thomas Lloyd, Paul Cox and Ahmed Khan taking two wickets each. Rayleigh never really got going, losing quick wickets and finishing on 124 all out. Chris Grob top scored with 39. Rayleigh lost by 40 runs.

The 8th XI (yes, you’ve read that right…) played a friendly against Wickford. Captain Dawbarn won the toss and batted first, posting 126-4 from 35 overs. Phil Wolff top scored with 57*. In reply, Wickford scored 132 all out and ‘claimed’ the win – but with 12 batters taking to the crease throughout the innings… Aaron Akers, Daniel Murray and Phil Wolff got two wickets each. Rayleigh lost by 1 wicket.