Seventh heaven lesson

Goresbrook 3rds began their TRippon division 7 season with a heavy defeat to Hatfield Peverel at the May and Baker Annex on Saturday.

Early wickets for Frankie Boland and Danny Gillham (and two athletic catches from Keith Maund's gauntlets) gave little sign of things to come as the visitors amassed 285-5 from their 45 overs with centuries from both of the sole survivors of the now defunct 2016 premier division side.

First Moore and then Phillips reached their tons before both fell late on to Andy Livett and a returning Gillham. Very difficult chances were given by both men (Bev's bruise is available to view by appointment) but in the end they made batting look easy as they either chipped over the infield or nurdled into the gaps. A succession of bowlers persevered with pretty reasonable line and length but the ease with which the visitors accumulated runs belied the effort and application of the home attack.

Gillham 10-1-65-2
F Boland 6-2-23-2
O Elsom 10-1-53-0
M Elsom 4-0-22-0
P Atkins 6-0-47-0
A Boland 3-0-33-0
P Sinha 3-0-19-0
A Livett 3-0-14-1

After a slow trudge over to tea and an even slower trudge back Brook's reply started positively as Alfie Boland (11) dispatched the second ball to the boundary but he then guided a wide ball to gully, Andrew Livett smacked a short ball towards the smaller clubhouse side boundary but this was safely snaffled.

Enter Jo Wilkinson, in his first game of the season, the silver fox beginning a rebuilding of the innings, but when well set, the Dagenham David Steele set off for a run and pulled up sharply with a dodgy calf.

Sportingly the visitors permitted a runner, a role box-office Boland probably never envisaged starring in, and Wilkinson continued to pick off loose balls until he drove a double bouncer straight to the skipper at mid off having scored 39. Owen Elsom (16) settled in for some more batting practice, occupying the crease for 17 overs but time well spent since it enabled Frankie Boland (30*) and Paul Atkins (17*) to bat long enough to achieve two valuable bonus batting points.

Credit must really be given to the visiting skipper Moore who superbly marshalled the troops available to him and coaxed a disciplined and athletic fielding display from his charges. Brook closed on 162-9 for a meagre 4 point return but positives have to be batting the full 45 overs and a disciplined bowling performance despite the ennui brought about by a lack of penetration.

Next up for the 3's is the long trip to Burnham Sports while the 4's will be hoping that a pitch is prepared at the Annex.