3 out of 3 in mini matchplay.

Goresbrook U11's took seven players to the mini Matchplay tournament held at the county ground in Chelmsford on Thursday evening. The youngsters were undaunted by the surroundings as they played with confidence in the late evening sun and then under the floodlights.
Drawn against Harlow,South Loughton and Cavaliers ( youth section of Ilford Catholic), Brook began brightly in a 6 a side, five over soft ball format as Tommy Smith and Stanley Sleight scored freely, Sleight retiring on 19 with a brace of sixes,which unfortunately for Harlow brought Albie Smith to the crease in partnership with his elder brother. Albie smote his first ball far over the ropes and repeated the feat on the innings final ball to leave both brothers unbeaten on 13.
Brook closed on 57-0,
Harlow chased with good intent and were just behind the required run rate when Tommy Smith nabbed a brace of wickets to slow Harlow's progress. But the chase continued and the pressure was on 8 year old Liam Elsom when he was put over the ropes twice in the final over but he responded with two dot balls to leave Brook victors by 6 runs in a hard fought encounter.

Brook's second game was against South Loughton and Albie Smith carried on his assault on the bowling hitting 2 more sixes and a four before retiring on 18. Grace Wood scored 7 before chipping to mid-wicket. Liam Elsom and Tommy Smith then combined extremely well running like whippets between the sticks to get the score up to 51-1from their 5 overs.
South Loughton were confident of overhauling Brook's total but tight overs from Stanley, Albie, Grace,Liam and Archie Dias and two run outs from Grace and Tommy and smart fielding kept them behind the rate and Brook ended up victors by 5 runs.
The final game was against Cavaliers and Brook fielded first. Albie Smith's luck continued as he got a wicket with a long hop. Albert nabbed a wicket then Grace Wood got 2 in 2 to catches from Albie and Tommy Smith. Archie Dias then wrapped up the innings of the first ball of the final over thanks to a Grace Wood catch.
Cavaliers were all out for 33.
Albie Smith fell for 1 in Brook's reply but Albert Sleight retired having smashed 17 from 5 balls. Tommy Smith hit a brace of boundaries in his knock of 11 but it was Stanley Sleight with 17 and Grace Wood with 13 including her first ever six who saw Brook home with a total of 63-3.
Brook were one of two teams on the night with 100% records,the other being Belhus, and won mamy admirers for the way they played and their fearless attitude. Overall a cracking culmination to a good season.