Despite poor availability across the club over the bank holiday weekend, three of our sides came away with hard-fought victories.
In league action, the 1st XI led the way with a three-wicket win over South Woodham & Burnham in Division One, thanks to a superb spell from Ian Turnbull (9-0-47-5), supported by solid performances with the bat. Catch all the key moments in our highlights package below.
The 5th XI, fielding a depleted side, made a shaky start, bowled out for 130 in just 33 overs. But a brilliant turnaround came courtesy of a match-winning bowling spell from Sangeet Prasad (8-2-22-2) and James Offer (7-4-4-4), who helped blow away Old Chelmsfordians and seal a 30-run win.
Completing a trio of victories, the 6th XI overcame Galleywood by five wickets. All bowlers contributed to restrict the opposition, before Simon “Tee Time” Lennox marked a strong return to action with 45 runs to help chase down the target comfortably.
Performances
Batting:
Bowling
This Week at Rayleigh CC
- Monday 26th May
- Adult training (18:00)
- Tuesday 27th May
- Colts training (18:00)
- Wednesday 28th May
- Essex CCC Over 60s fixture at Rawreth Lane (13:00)
- Evening League XI vs. Hadleigh & Thundersley (Away, 18:00)
- Thursday 29th May
- Essex CCC Mini Match Play Event (11:00 to 17:00)
- Veterans vs. Eastwood (Away, 13:30)
- Adult training (18:00)
- Friday 30th May
- Rayleigh & Maldon Ladies fixture (Home, 18:00)
- Saturday 31st May
- League fixtures (13:00)
- Champions League Final (20:00)
- Sunday 1st June
- U13 Hawks vs. Eastwood (Home, 09:30)
- U11 Owls vs. Hadleigh & Thundersley (Home, 09:30)
- Sunday XI vs. Horndon-on-the-Hill (Home, 13:00)
Fantasy Cricket Update
🔝 Andy Long continues to lead the way with Ding dong line n length long!! holding firm at the top on 2407 points. A consistent showing so far – can anyone catch him?
🔥 Hot on his heels is Dave Turner with Some you win, sometimes you get hammered just 54 points behind – one strong round could flip the standings.
📈 Andy James and Jamesy’s Jaffas round out the top three with 2301 points, staying in touch with the leaders.
| Rank | Team Name | Manager | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ding dong line n length long!! | Andy Long | 2,407 |
| 2 | Some you win, sometimes you get hammered | Dave Turner | 2,353 |
| 3 | Jamesy’s Jaffas | Andy James | 2,301 |
| 4 | Cow corner merchants | Matthew Walker | 2,159 |
| 5 | Bailey’s Batters and Bowlers | Mark Bailey | 2,136 |
| 6 | It’s still red and still round……. hit it harder! | Danny Mantle | 2,103 |
| 7 | Boundary Riders | Yousuf | 2,061 |
| 8 | Five Finger Discount | Phil Hammond | 2,035 |
| 9 | Quirky quackers | Richard Nolde | 2,002 |
| 10 | HOW’S THAT? | Terry Martin | 1,988 |
Match Reports:
Turnbull tears through the order, Littler tears Achilles
1st XI vs. South Woodham & Burnham | Won by 3 Wickets
Skipper Matt Verrinder won the toss and elected to bowl on a damp looking wicket, searching for his victory of the season. The decision to bowl first proved fruitful as they restricted South Woodham & Burnham CC to a total of 163 all out in 42.4 overs. The bowling attack was spearheaded by Ian Turnbull, who was in exceptional form, taking 5 wickets for just 31 runs in 5.5 overs. Greg Hood also contributed significantly with 3 wickets for 40 runs.
Chasing a target of 164 runs for victory, the 1st team successfully reached 167 runs for 7 wickets in 40 overs. The batting innings saw important contributions, notably from Sam Keene, who scored 38 runs, anchoring the innings, before being dismissed LBW by Paul Green. Steven Lynch added a valuable 24 runs, bowled by Nathan Pretty. Unfortunately, Rob Littler (pitctured below) retired not out on 11 runs following an injury to his Achilles. Get well soon, Robo!
In the latter stages of the innings, Danny Frost played a crucial role, remaining unbeaten with 30 runs, ably supported by Greg Hood, who finished 6 not out, and Sam Verrinder (22), guiding Rayleigh to the win.
Green track gets worse as the 2s capitulate
2nd XI vs. Navestock | Lost by 43 Runs | By Richard Nolde
After last weekend’s win, the 2’s made their way to Navestock for what should have been a very winnable encounter. After arriving and seeing a green wicket, Nolde won the toss and chose to bowl first hoping the wicket would get better throughout the day.
After picking up early wickets last week, Nolde was hoping for much the same. Mayfield provided the goods with his 2nd ball, making the batsmen chip a ball to Ryan Hart at square leg. He also struck again in his second over with the batsmen edging behind to a flying Murrell taking a low catch diving to his right! After the two early wickets, Rayleigh kept chipping away at Navestock bowling them all out for 128 in the 42nd over. The pick of the bowlers were Mayfield (4-23) Green (4-31) however, everyone played their part with the ball and in the field.
Hoping that the pitch had dried out, Rayleigh set about chasing it down. Unfortunately, this was not the case, Rayleigh lost wickets too frequently on a wicket that was described as doing all sorts by a lot of the batsmen, with only Bala (28) and Nolde (12) reaching double figures. With McCarthy being the pick of the bowlers with (4-16) showing how to bowl on the wet track.
The 2s look to bounce back from this defeat next weekend with a home game against Springfield.
Premarital knock for Scogings, but the 3s couldn’t tie the knot
3rd XI vs. Tillingham | Lost by 8 Wickets | By Trevor Nunn
Overnight rain was always likely to play a part, and after losing the toss, we were asked to bat first on what looked to be a challenging surface. With eight changes from the previous week, it was a much-altered side taking to the field.
Despite the disruption, a composed and gritty innings from Andy Scogings — a debut half-century no less, finishing on 69 — laid the foundation for our innings. He was well supported by Mike Mayfield, who contributed a steady 32 during a tough opening 20 overs. As wickets continued to fall at intervals, a few useful late contributions pushed Rayleigh to 208 all out in the final over.
After tea, the pitch dried and returned to its usual flat-track ways, making defending the total a tall order. Their openers played cautiously but offered few chances. The returning Cam Mantle and Jon Isherwood helped keep things tight, while a sharp spell from Kat Mayfield gave us hope deep into the innings.
Unfortunately, a commanding century from Tillingham’s opener and a total that was probably 50 runs short proved too much to defend, with the hosts chasing down the target with four overs to spare.
Congratulations once again to Andy Scogings — not only on a fine first half-century in club colours but also on tying the real knot the very next day. Wishing you all the best for a long and happy marriage!
On to Springfield next week, where we’ll be aiming for a stronger showing and, hopefully, a winning return.
Fours faulter despite excellent team effort to restrict top-of-table OCs
4th XI vs. Old Chelmsfordians | Lost by 82 Runs
Professional filler, Tom Peppiatt, led the 4th team in what was expected to be a tough fixture, following a week of poor availability, against top of the table Old Chelmsfordians.
Peps won the toss and elected to bowl on a damp Aythorpe Roding track. Things didn’t go to plan, with OCs motoring to 70-1 from 7 overs. The skipper put himself into the attack and held down an end, while picking up a wicket early on to a nibbling in-ducker leaving OCs 84-2. Oliver Church joined the attack and although he didn’t get a wicket, he bowled well against the ex-first team OCs batter.
It wasn’t until the introduction of John Wright that the game started to gain some control. Lobing up some skillfully disguised grenades to a strategic field placement, wickets started to fall. Chloe Martin played a crucial role, bowling out the death overs and picking up key wickets herself. An excellent display saw Wright (3/28) and Martin (3/30) take three weeks each, finished nicely by a run out from Oliver Church to clinch maximum bowling points. OCs finished on 211 all out. Young Oliver Guinn was excellent behind the stumps and didn’t give away a chance.
Ordinally, the OCs total looked 30 to 40 runs short of what would be considered a par total on that wicket. Rayleigh started watchfully with Terry Martin (20) and Baldwin (32) playing watchfully. The former was the first to fall to the skillful, division leading wicket taker, Jan Le Roux – edging one to the slips. Callaway (18) joined the attack but after both were dismissed the Rayleigh Collapse™ was in full flow.
It was left to John Wright and Skipper Peppiatt to see if they could inflict some damage and save the innings. Unfortunately, Peps was dismissed for a golden attempting a straight drive back to the bowler (after much debate as to whether it was a bump-ball or not…) and Wrighty followed soon after bowled through the gate for 4.
Despite a spirited attempted from the lower order, Rayleigh slumped to 129 all out in a disappointing chase. The 4s go again next week, this time back under the stewardship of substantive skipper Geoff Morgan – while Peps have a well deserved break (again).
5th XI win by 30 runs on a challenging pitch
5th XI vs. Old Chelmsfordians | Won by 30 runs | By Marc Smith
Rayleigh 5s battled both the opposition and the conditions to claim a hard-earned 30-run win over OC 5s on a difficult, rain-affected pitch. This result not only marks their fourth consecutive victory, but also sees them remain at the top of the table
OCs won the toss and made the expected decision to bowl first, hoping to exploit a wet and unpredictable track. Rayleigh’s openers, DT and Phil Hammond, dug in against a probing opening spell, weathering the early pressure. With runs hard to come by and wickets falling at regular intervals, it was Sangeet Prasad who delivered a crucial contribution with the bat. His composed 31 at the tail end pushed Rayleigh to 130 all out in 30 overs.
In reply, Rayleigh turned the match on its head with a ruthless bowling display. Offer was unplayable, tearing through OC’s top order in a devastating spell of 7 overs, including 4 maidens, 4 wickets, and just 4 runs conceded. OC were left in tatters at 16 for 6. Tobias and Smith kept up the pressure, taking 2 wickets each and ensuring there was no way back for OC, who were bowled out for 100 in 26 overs.
The side stuck together in tough conditions, backed each other in the field, and showed resilience. With momentum firmly on their side, Rayleigh 5s now sit proudly at the top of the table with four wins on the spin.
Simon Lennox runs a three… We repeat, Simon Lennox runs a three
6th XI vs. Galleywood | Won by 5 Wickets | By Duncan Bond
For the second successive week, the 6th XI took on the team at the top of the league, and defeated them. Captain Ray Hart won the toss and put the home side into bat. Another chance for the new breed of young colts coming through the ranks to make an impact. And that they did, reducing Galleywood to 96 for 9, before the tail wagged a little to get the hosts to 127 all out.
There were two wickets a-piece for Luke Gould, Riley Hughes and Josh Rockenbach, and they were ably assisted by Joseph Collins who put in a shift bowling up hill. Special mention to Robin Peppiatt (Old Man Peps or ‘OMP’) with a very economic spell of 6-2-11-1, proving himself, yet again (sorry Mr Deputy Chairman) to be the best cricketer in the Peppiatt family!
Rayleigh went out to bat, knowing that on a slow pitch and outfield, against a predominant bowling attack it wasn’t going to be easy. Simon Lennox was welcomed back in the fold after nearly nine months without lifting a bat and superbly anchored the innings, scoring 45, which included running a 3, which is unheard of, especially as he’s still nursing an ankle injury and the third run was uphill!
Opening with Lennox was young Arvin Ghataura, who batted very sensibly for his 17 runs in a partnership of 45. To be honest, it was remarkable that Arvin even managed to get to bat after earlier in the field he was accidentally taken out by the full 15 stone of Duncan Bond – trying to get a late call up as Maro Itoje’s replacement in the British Lions squad, chasing the ball on the boundary edge. Well played Arvin. It could have been a career ending tackle! Character building, as one of the watching parents acknowledged.
With 10 overs left, Rayleigh had reduced the run rate to under four an over and it was left to the ageing combination of Bond and Mark Bailey to see them over the winning line. Bailey hitting two trademark cover drives to the boundary to secure a five wicket win in the 38th over.
