Some weekends just fall the right way and this was one of them. Despite less than ideal availability, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th XIs all delivered wins on Saturday, a fine return across the senior sides and one that reflects the work being put in week after week by our captains and players. The 5s and 6s were unable to complete the set, but the overall picture is a positive one for the club.
The 1st and 3rd XI set the tone at Rawreth Lane, both finishing early and wrapping up their matches with limited drama.
Despite losing the toss and being asked to field first on an unforgiving, dry wicket, the 1st XI bowled Stock out for 152 inside 40 overs. Sam Verrinder (9-3-15-5) led the attack with exceptional control, claiming his second five-wicket haul of the 2026 season. In response, Rayleigh chased down the target inside 28 overs, thanks to Steve Lynch’s quick-fire 50 from just 31 balls.
The 3rd XI’s afternoon followed a similar pattern. Taking to the field first, they bowled Epping Foresters out for 127, with Geoff Morgan (9-2-27-3) and Freddy Noble (6-1-27-3) leading the charge, ably supported by Oliver Milchard (5-3-10-2) and Tom Peppiatt (2-1-10-2). The chase was completed in under 30 overs, with Neil Noble (45) and James Isherwood (27) top-scoring.
Not every win came the easy way. The 2nd XI produced the drama of the day, while the 4th XI went about their business with rather less fuss.
The 2nd XI’s clash with league leaders Chelmsford Titans had everything you could want from a Saturday afternoon of cricket — with the possible exception of the 30-mile drive to north Braintree. The Titans won the toss, chose to bat, and came out of the blocks quickly, posting 277 all out from 43 overs. Siva Ranjan (9-2-40-3) was the standout with the ball, while Sam Skillett (5-0-31-2) and Ryan Hart (7-0-58-2) chipped in with a couple of wickets apiece. With a weakened batting line-up, the 2s started the chase cautiously. There were composed contributions through the top four, including a well-made 52 from 64 balls from captain Richard Nolde, but the stars of the day were David Cox and Ben Francis. The pair put on 170 for the fifth wicket, with Francis (90* from 58 balls) and Cox (69* from 55 balls) making the chase look almost routine and getting Rayleigh over the line with three overs still in the tank. An exceptional performance, and one the team will remember for a while to come.
The 4th XI, by comparison, made victory look much more straightforward. Batting first, Rayleigh posted 235-6 from their 40 overs, with captain Terry Martin recording his third century of the season – 118 from 111 balls, including 18 boundaries. In response, Willow Herbs were restricted to 212-7, with Shane McDonagh (8-0-29-3) and John Wright (4-1-10-2) the pick of the bowlers.
League Standings
The league season is entering its closing stretch, and with only three games left to play, the tables are starting to tell their story. Here’s where each of Rayleigh’s sides now sit heading into the run-in.
The 1st XI are now just one win away from a promotion spot, while the 2nd XI will need a strong finish to the season to mount a challenge of their own. The 3rd XI are effectively safe and look likely to settle into the lower-middle reaches of the table, while the 4th XI remain 23 points adrift of Great Totham in second. The 5th XI sit 24 points behind Oaklands in the same position, and the 6th XI will need a near-perfect run-in to force their way into the promotion picture.
| Pos | Team | p | w | l | t | a | c | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Hatfield Peverel CC - 1st XI | 15 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 245 |
| 3 | East Hanningfield and Great Burstead CC - 1st XI | 15 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 237 |
| 4 | Rayleigh CC - 1st XI | 15 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 233 |
| 5 | Southend-on-Sea & EMT CC - 1st XI | 15 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 231 |
| 6 | Ilford Catholic CC - 1st XI | 15 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 216 |
| Pos | Team | p | w | l | t | a | c | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Chelmsford Titans CC - Saturday 1st XI | 15 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 260 |
| 4 | Boreham & Roxwell CC - 1st XI | 15 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 257 |
| 5 | Rayleigh CC - 2nd XI | 15 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 235 |
| 6 | Willow Herbs CC - 1st XI | 15 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 221 |
| 7 | High Roding CC - 2nd XI | 15 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 211 |
| Pos | Team | p | w | l | t | a | c | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Ilford Catholic CC - 2nd XI | 15 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 248 |
| 5 | South Weald CC - 2nd XI | 15 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 206 |
| 6 | Rayleigh CC - 3rd XI | 15 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 185 |
| 7 | Southend-on-Sea & EMT CC - 2nd XI | 15 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 180 |
| 8 | Springfield CC, Essex - ME3 XI | 15 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 130 |
| Pos | Team | p | w | l | t | a | c | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Horndon On The Hill CC - 3rd XI | 15 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 300 |
| 2 | Great Totham CC - 3rd XI | 15 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 296 |
| 3 | Rayleigh CC - 4th XI | 15 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 273 |
| 4 | Willow Herbs CC - 2nd XI | 15 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 264 |
| 5 | Rankins CC - 2nd XI | 15 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 254 |
| Pos | Team | p | w | l | t | a | c | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Oaklands CC - 1st XI | 15 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 250 |
| 3 | Great Waltham CC - 3rd XI | 15 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 238 |
| 4 | Rayleigh CC - 5th XI | 15 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 226 |
| 5 | Brentwood CC - ME2 | 15 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 207 |
| 6 | Old Chelmsfordians CC - 5th XI | 15 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 202 |
| Pos | Team | p | w | l | t | a | c | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Ingatestone & Fryerning CC - 3rd XI | 15 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 267 |
| 3 | Basildon & Pitsea CC - 6th XI | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 209 |
| 4 | Rayleigh CC - 6th XI | 13 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 200 |
| 5 | South Woodham & Burnham CC - 4th XI | 13 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 193 |
| 6 | Springfield CC, Essex - ME4 XI | 13 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 181 |
This Week at the club
It’s a slightly reduced week of fixtures this week, compared with the last month. On Wednesday, the Veteran’s XI take on Benfleet. Sadly, the U17 game scheduled for the same day has been cancelled. The U19 fixture planned for Thursday will also be moved in due course.
On Saturday, we welcome back league action as we see in week 16. The 2nd XI, 4th XI and 5th XI are at home. The next day, the Sunday XI make the journey to North Stifford to play Belhus.
Fitness Training: Wed 12th Aug
Fitness training with local PT Ellie returns on Wednesday this week (12th August). Join us at 18:15 on the main ground.
The cost for attending is circa. £5 (depending on numbers).
Player of the Week (WK15)
There were plenty of contenders across the club this weekend, but Sam Verrinder’s performance for the 1st XI takes the honours. Figures of 9-3-15-5 against Stock helped the 1st XI bundle the opposition out cheaply and return an easy win and vital points for their league ambitions. You can watch all five wickets in under 30 seconds on our TikTok, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube pages.
Well done to Sam on another POTW accolade!
