Heavy reverse for 3rd XI

Goresbrooks 3rd XI suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Tillingham 2s on Saturday afternoon despite the best efforts of Keith Friend and Danny Gillham Jnr. A one hundred mile round journey saw the visitors lose by nine wickets.

Alfie Boland earned a promotion from the 4s following his excellent 75 the previous week and another product of the clubs academy, Billy Parnell, was a late call up for the promoted Tommy Puncher. Skipper Gillham lost his first toss of the season and Goresbrook were put in to bat on a grassy but good looking wicket.

Andrew Livett opened with Danny Gillham Jnr and the former succumbed just three overs in for no score, edging behind. Keith Friend joined Gillham and the pair started where they left off following last weeks unbroken century plus stand.

Gillham took time to get going, although pleasing on the eye the youngsters shots were dealt with well in the field by Corby and Smith who excelled throughout the game. Friend, clearly enjoying his cricket, used his greater power to be the quicker scoring of the two Goresbrook batsman.

Neither were trouble as the score ticked along and Friend brought up yet another half century and muscled the ball to the boundary on thirteen occasions in his excellent innings of 80. At the other end Gillham reached his own personal milestone of his first senior half century with a typical nudge into the gaps and celebrated with Friend.

When Friend finally fell, the pair had put on 155 for the second wicket and a total of 263 runs including the end of the last match. Gillham fell shortly after and despite the best efforts of Lowe, Boland and Atkins the visitors scored just 22 more runs to close on 181.

Tea was as disappointing as the Goresbrook fielding was to be trying to defend 181.

Following last season's tea scandal when Tess the Tillingham tea lady failed to turn up the visitors were in high expectation of some fine fayre in the sumptuous surroundings of The West Field. Three trays of sandwiches were on offer, plain ham was well received by the clubs newest (and salad averse) half centurion whereas the egg mayonnaise was lacking in the mayo department and the cheese was a little too bland for this correspondent.

With news coming in from Rayleigh that the second XI were feasting on onion bhajis and a fine selection of other savoury snacks, the 3rd XI were only able to draw on some sausage rolls. In the sweet department some Cadburys chocolate fingers were on offer and whilst nice, didn’t compare to the scones and jam with cream that was being devoured by the higher XI.

The only good news to reach this Trippon Tea Critic was that the cream at Rayleigh was spray can and not clotted.

Goresbrook's afternoon did not get any better.

Joe Barwick, fresh from falling down the stairs at the players entrance and having visited the barbers for a haircut on the wrong part of his head, opened the bowling from the pavilion end and the fiery faced bar worker soon found his drift as he tidily opened proceedings. The crimson craftsman moved the ball away nicely and there were a number of close shaves for the batsmen, although sadly none for the bowler.

University returnee Bobby Gaymer bowled with good pace as he caused Snowdon some problems early on but he and his opening partner Barrel were resolute and withstood the early onslaught. Gillham introduced Parnell into the attack but his leggies were dispatched with ease. However the switch to seam bowling brought Parnell an immediate reward as Paul Atkins took a good catch to remove Barrel for a fine 48.

Skipper Gillham brought himself into the attack along with Paul Atkins and the pair, despite the odd good delivery, were way off form as Snowdon and now Ashworth were now in full flow.

Chances did come along, Livett spilling one in the slips to add to his earlier duck and several other fielders were also culpable as Tillingham got closer to victory and the quality of the fielding dropped. Tillingham finally eased home in the 39th over with Snowdon finishing on 78 and Ashworth 48 to deliver a comprehensive 9 wicket win.

The defeat removes Goresbrook from top spot in Division 8, Great Baddow taking over by virtue of the additional bonus points gained in their defeat at Willowherbs. The Division's promotion scene has taken on a different complexion as two sides in the league Willowherbs and Hatfield Peverel have withdrawn 1st XI's from the league, so the strength of their 2's will presumably increase, although on the flip side, with teams dropping like flies multiple promotion slots are likely to be available for Division 8 hopefuls.