Match Reports: 21st June 2025

The editor has been a little tied up over the past few weeks, but good news — a special Weekly Round Up newsletter marking the halfway point of the league season is scheduled for later this week (w/c 30th July 2025).

In the meantime, why not catch up on a selection of match reports submitted from last weekend?

A big thank you to everyone who took the time to send in their reports — your contributions are always appreciated.

With Geoff Morgan enjoying a well-earned weekend off, Tom Peppiatt stepped in as skipper for a tough fixture against second-placed Ardleigh Green & Havering-Atte-Bower (AGHAB). Fresh off back-to-back wins, the team arrived in confident spirits, though the old ground was as firm as the tarmac on Rawreth Lane under a blazing 28-degree sun.

Peps lost the toss (to the audible sighs of the 4th XI contingent), and were asked to field. With late drop-outs and slim bowling stocks, the skipper opened up himself alongside veteran Sam Levett. Both bowled tightly, Peps striking first in the 8th over, followed by Levett two overs later to leave AGHAB wobbling at 49-2. Hopes of running through the visitors were soon dashed, however, as Amrender Singh (137*) and Martin Cason (75*) took control, compiling a mammoth unbroken stand for the third wicket. Levett (8-0-46-1) and Peppiatt (8-0-26-1) were the pick of the bowlers, but AGHAB still posted an imposing 268.

The mood over lunch was understandably more cautious, despite a “less than Churchillian” team talk from Peps. Terry Martin and Gosling got Rayleigh off to a flyer against some generous new-ball bowling, before Gosling nicked off for 5 with the score on 33. Baldwin joined Martin, and the pair put on a fluent 112, Martin playing beautifully before being bowled for 80.

Davies came and went, followed by Baldwin for a well-constructed 48 – safely within the jug avoidance threshold. Wright then took centre stage, enjoying a buffet of half-volleys, while Peps tried to launch his first ball into Rawreth Lane, only to pick out long-off. Khan (6) started with a crunching boundary but fell soon after, leaving Wright to shepherd the innings with youngsters Guinn (5) and Hughes (11), who showed admirable composure in rotating the strike.

When Chloe Martin was dismissed trying to keep things moving, it was down to Levett to block out the last ball of the 37th over, ensuring Wright would face the next – with 16 an over. Sadly, hopes of a miracle finish ended when Wright (who had batted superbly for his 55 off 35 balls) popped one tamely back to the keeper, leaving Rayleigh 32 runs adrift.

Despite the defeat, it was a cracking game that could easily have swung the other way. Plenty of positives, and another afternoon of spirited cricket under the sun.

Rayleigh 5th XI cruised to a dominant win over East Hanningfield on a sunny afternoon, securing victory by 7 wickets in a one-sided affair that was all but settled before tea.

EH&GB batted first, with the Rayleigh opening bowlers wasting no time tearing through the top and middle order, claiming seven wickets before the drinks break at just 15 overs. The opposition were reeling, with wickets falling quickly.

With the heavy lifting done early, young guns Milchard and Collins stepped up after drinks to wrap up the innings, dismissing East Hanningfield for a meagre 68 all out.

In reply, Rayleigh’s chase got off to a less-than-ideal start. Hammond was controversially given out LBW in the first over – an enthusiastic finger from the umpire removing him cheaply. Offer followed soon after, gifting his customary catch to the boundary fielder with a stroke that could generously be described as charitable. At 1 for 2, the atmosphere briefly tensed.

Enter Callaway and Turner, who steadied the ship with a calm yet aggressive counterattack. Callaway chipped in a handy 15 while Turner top-scored with an authoritative 32. JHJ came in and added late fireworks, thumping three quick boundaries, before Turner fittingly struck the winning run.

Rayleigh wrapped up the win inside 16 overs making it back for a beer by 16:30.

Player of the Day (Unofficially): The skipper, Smith – for exemplary ball shining, impeccable standing in a field and managing to contribute absolutely nothing else to the game. A true team player in spirit if not in stats.

A clinical performance all-round and another strong W for Rayleigh 5s

On the hottest Saturday of the summer, so far, the back pitch toss proved crucial and it was the South Woodham & Burnham captain who called correctly and didn’t hesitate to tell his openers to “pad up.”

The visitors got off to a cautious start and after the first 10 overs were 28 for 1, after Luke Gould had bowled opener Stuart Curtis for 13. The South Woodham & Burnham batsmen then started to find a few more gaps in the field and with that, a few more boundaries and the Rayleigh fielders began to toil in the oppressive heat. That said, there were some positive performances, not least from Josh Rockenbach who returned figures of 8-0-36-3 and Thomas Barker who bowled a tidy spell of 5-0-19-1, on his first appearance for the 6s. Robin Peppiatt also claimed a wicket, and Steve Rothon, a very good catch, as the visitors set a challenging total of 194 for 6 from their 40 overs.

The home side left the field exhausted and by the end of the tea break, grey clouds had appeared, the breeze had whipped up and even some light rain began to fall. It really didn’t seem like it was going to be Rayleigh’s day and that feeling was enhanced when opening batsmen Simon Lennox and Arvin Ghataura were back in the hutch within the first five overs. 

Steve Rothon top scored with 29 but the ageing middle order, still suffering from heat exhaustion, never really got in and it was left to Josh Rockenbach with a sensible 19 and a bit of explosive hitting by Old Man Peps with three 4s in a cameo knock of 16 not out to prolong the game to the 37th over and help Rayleigh to a second batting point, as they finished on 130 all out.

Despite their 64 run loss, the two batting points achieved did help Rayleigh  close the gap at the top of Division 11 to within three points of leaders Willow Herbs who also suffered a surprise defeat.

So not all doom and gloom but, nonetheless, a very tough day at the office.