2's promoted despite defeat at Purleigh

Goresbrook 2's became the first side to clinch promotion in the 2014 T Rippon season as despite falling to their first defeat of the season by 7 wickets at Purleigh following a superb 89* from home skipper Chris Freegard, a defeat for Woodham Mortimer leaves Brook 70 points clear of Old Chelmsfordians who have 3 games left (maximum of 78 points) and 102 points clear of Woodham Mortimer (maximum of 104 points) .

As those sides are the only teams who can overhaul Craig Ivey's men (unless we start incurring penalties..) and they still have to play each other, it's impossible for both to overhaul the 2's, so Ivey can plan for Division 3 cricket next season.

As we entered August where holidays traditionally start to kick-in, the Goresbrook side showed numerous changes from the previous week, with Andrew Livett, Jo Wilkinson, Dunston Alfred and Tommy Puncher all gaining promotion from the 3's and Richard Williams coming in after 2 weeks babysitting.

Stand-in skipper Joe Curley lost the toss and was invited to bat on a grassy pitch and he would have backed his side to score more than the 164-9 that they accumulated after a bright start from the skipper and the in-form Livett coming off the back of his hundred for the 3's last week.

Both men looked comfortable before being trapped lbw, Curley getting stuck on the crease against the diminutive Bowles as one skidded through and Livett being stuck in the wrong place at the wrong time as he was adjudged lbw by colleague Bobby Gaymer after being hit high on the leg by right arm round the wicket paceman John.

Tommy Puncher at 3 played some stylish strokes before being bowled by the medium pace cutters of Yasin and Billy Chapman hit some trademark leg side boundaries before skying a catch off the same bowler. The common denominator was that the Goresbrook top 4 got in and then got out and that theme continued as Alfred and Williams flattered to deceive and it was left to the obdurate Jo Wilkinson to ensure that Goresbrook batted their 45 overs, the silver haired swordsman brandished his 23 year old bat to fine effect, top scoring with 31. A late flurry of wickets drew the crowds from the local bars anticipating the arrival of Joe Barwick at the crease for the final 4 balls of the innings, however the amber haired accumulator was strangely subdued with the willow, 3 strikes being followed by a bye off an overthrow from the last delivery, Goresbrook closing on 164-9.

That total might have been enough on another day, however the home skipper Freegard produced easily the best innings against the 2's this season to anchor a chase that always seemed likely to end in Purleigh's favour. Despite an early wicket for Williams and a superb run out from Curley who hit the stumps on the full from the boundary to dismiss Bowles, Freegard took the initiative feasting early on against some over pitched bowling from Williams and Gaymer and once up and running he proved impossible to stop. The ageing Williams was able to bowl a 12 over spell mainly because of rest afforded by three lengthy delays to recover the ball after Lawrence Walsh deliveries were hit into the next field or the stream bordering the ground and although the Yorkshireman came back to record the respectable figures of 12-3-35-1, he was unable to dislodge Freegard or indeed number 4 Rynn who struck 37 largely through the slip or gully region.

Walsh will also bowl worse for greater reward, as his leg spinner beat the bat of Rynn regularly and with time starting to run out, Curley turned to the bespectacled duo of Billy Smith and Joe Barwick. Barwick struck immediately to remove Rynn and Smith provoked the one mistake of the afternoon from Freegard, as he advanced down the pitch and missed a ball that seemed certain to bowl him to everybody, including keeper Chapman, who consequently didn't take the ball with Freegard well out of his crease.

A late dropped catch off the excellent Smith rubbed salt into the wound and allowed number 5 Stanley a reprieve that he took full advantage of, bludgeoning 14 off what turned out to be 41st and final over of the game from Barwick spoiling the strawberry blonde bomber's figures somewhat after another trademark spell full of subtle drift, mystique and regret.

A disappointed Curley, whose captaincy was excellent on his first game in charge of a Goresbrook XI, wasn't in the mood for a lengthy interview post-match, however he was boosted by the news of his sides elevation and did note "Craig Ivey entrusted me to protect his unbeaten record and I did that. He's still unbeaten."

Veteran grafter Jo Wilkinson was less reticent however, "164 was a competitive total on that pitch and their skipper batted superbly, but we bowled too full with the new ball and got him off to a flier. We battled back well, but that was where we lost the game."

Before adding, "We're doomed, we're doomed."