Over the Hills and far away.

Goresbrook's second string opened the 2017 season with a 40 over friendly at Orsett's School Lane ground.
Skipper Danny Gilham lost the toss and his team were asked to field on a flat light green pitch.
There were early wickets for Daryl Forward, Lee Jones, Owen Elsom and Matthew Elsom plus a run out from a throw from Forward and Goresbrook looked in a strong position with the score on 50-5. However the experienced pairing of Stuart Warren and Matt Hills then scored freely despite some accurate bowling and although a more defensive field stemmed the flow of runs it was not until the penultimate over that Bobby Granger tempted Matt Hills down the wicket and got his reward with Danny Junior taking a smart stumping. There was still time for Warren to mount a legside salvo that took him to within one run of a century when time was called with the home innings on 217-6
After a tea that included chicken curry and rice Goresbrook's reply was soon faltering as a succession of batsmen failed to deal with the accurate home attack, only Andy Livett emerging with any credit with a hard fought 22. Therafter only number 10 Daryl Forward offered any resistance as he thumped 2 huge sixes but he too soon went the way of his teammates as Brook succumbed to a 148 run defeat.
Nevertheless a young team did give a creditable performance in the field with Matthew Elsom and George Godfrey in particular bowling with great maturity.
A more solid batting display needs to follow in the games to come before the league season kicks off on the 6th May.