Weekly Round Up: Youth Reps Announced

We are delighted to announce that James Balkwill and Sam Keene have been appointed as our first Youth Representatives on the Management Committee.

This new role is all about giving our younger members a voice in shaping the future of the club. James and Sam will join committee meetings to share ideas, feedback, and perspectives from the junior and youth sections, helping us ensure we are heading in the right direction for years to come.

While the position is not yet part of the Club Constitution (and therefore non-voting until the next AGM), both James and Sam will play an active part in discussions and decision-making for the benefit of all members.

We look forward to working closely with them as they represent the views and interests of the next generation of Rayleigh CC players, members, and volunteers.

Please join us in giving James and Sam a warm welcome to the committee!

Sadly, it was a poor weekend for our league teams, with no wins recorded across five league fixtures. The 5th XI (playing in a friendly match, owing to their opposition dropping out of the league) were the only team to record a win.

Despite the results, there were some glimmers of hope for the remainder of the season thanks to some sterling individual performances. Mark Bailey (84) and Chris Poole (53) were back in the runs, helping to post a competitive total of 233-5 for the 6s. Bailey was back in the action behind the stumps, taking two catches (which could arguably have been four, despite some rambunctious appealing). Ryan Hart (9-2-44-3) and Shane McDonagh (4-0-7-3) were the pick of the bowlers across all Saturday teams.

Read all match reports from the weekend below.

It was a disappointing day for the 1st XI as they recorded a heavy loss against a strong SOSEMT side in division one.

Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Rayleigh were skittled for 90 inside of 30 overs. The only form of resistance came from Sam Keene (27), who dug in for a 57 ball innings, supported by Jonathan Cook (17) and later Sam Verrinder (10). Sean Elliot was the star with the ball for SOSEMT, taking a five wicket haul and finishing off the Rayleigh innings (8-2-25-5).

In reply, SOSEMT knocked off the total in under 13 overs with Joe Sibbons (46*) and Kieran Buttler (36*) leading the scoring.

A tough day, with a depleted side. Rayleigh will be looking to bounce back next week against Great Baddow.

Rayleigh 2nd XI suffered a tough day at Brookweald, going down by 138 runs. After winning the toss, the hosts posted 278-6, driven by a dominant unbeaten 128 from Danny Finch. Ryan Hart led the Rayleigh attack with 3-44, supported by wickets from Ben Hoskins, James Offer and Aaron Mayfield.

In reply, Rayleigh made a steady start through Richard Nolde (27) and Andrew Barker (17), with Jake Ashworth (34) and Matthew Walker (24) also getting starts. However, a devastating spell from Hasnain Iqbal (5-49) turned the game, as the visitors were dismissed for 140 inside 30 overs.

Rayleigh 3rd XI fell just short in a competitive clash with Epping Foresters 2nd XI, losing by five wickets. Batting first, Rayleigh posted 230-9, with Richard Barker top-scoring with a fluent 66, well supported by Trevor Nunn (27) and Sangeet Prasad (28*). Extras also made a big contribution with 41 runs.

In reply, Epping Foresters overcame the loss of a wicket first ball to chase down the target in the final over. James Scott anchored the innings with an unbeaten 97, despite tight bowling from Andy Long (2-18), Trevor Nunn (1-29), David Archer (1-53) and Richard Barker (1-55).

Rayleigh 4th XI slipped to an eight-wicket defeat at St Johns (Billericay) 2nd XI, with a string of missed chances proving costly. Batting first, Rayleigh posted 159, led by Joshua Mantle’s 37, Terry Martin’s 23, and John Wright’s 22, but were bowled out inside 39 overs.

In reply, St Johns cruised to victory in under 30 overs, powered by an unbeaten 94 from Bala Aditya Kalabarigi, who found great joy in edging chances through the gully / slip region. Rayleigh’s bowlers toiled hard, but 10 dropped catches gifted the hosts repeated reprieves, making the run chase far more comfortable than it should have been.

Rayleigh 5th XI edged a low-scoring thriller against Basildon & Pitsea 5th XI, winning by one wicket. The hosts were bowled out for 117, with Shane McDonagh and Harry Rixon each taking 3 wickets, well supported by Joseph Collins, Oliver Milchard, Thomas Barker, and Katrina Mayfield.

In reply, Rayleigh’s chase was anything but straightforward, losing wickets at regular intervals. Oliver Milchard (20) and Elliot Davies (17) provided key runs before a composed 11* from Katrina Mayfield and 8* from Harry Rixon saw Rayleigh over the line in the 34th over.

Some games you win, some games you lose. That’s the reality of playing 6th team cricket in the bottom division. However, it stops being enjoyable when, for whatever reason, it becomes an uneven contest.

Rayleigh won the toss and elected to bat and posted a competitive total of 233 for 5 from their 40 overs. Chris Poole (83) and Mark Bailey (84) top scored and shared an impressive 158 run partnership for the 3rd wicket.

SOSEMT chased the total down to win from the first ball of the final over, for the loss of 4 wickets.

The pick of the Rayleigh bowlers was Mark Callaway who finished with 2 for 30 from his 8 overs, while Miller Poole produced the ball of the day with a yorker to remove the visitors top scorer John Mitchell for 90.

Mark Bailey, impressive with the bat, was also impressive behind the wicket, with two successful stumpings and two unsuccessful appeals!

The 6th team now look forward to their final three league games against our friends from Hutton, South Woodham Ferrers/Burnham and Oaklands.