FOR THE first time this season wet weather curtailed the weekend’s programme of cricket matches.

The west of the county was worst hit, with only a handful of matches being played in the Hunts County Bats Suffolk League.

Rain hit the east of the county a little later, which meant most matches in the MSC Suffolk Alliance were approaching a conclusion when the rains came.

It was a wet finish in many games, some of which were played to a conclusion in decidedly damp conditions.

Section A leaders Kesgrave were frustrated as they were denied victory at Stradbroke. Steve Worne (131 not out) and Dominic Gallant (75) were in top form to lead Kesgrave to a daunting total of 261 for three.

Play continued as long as possible, but the teams called it a day when Stradbroke were 150 for three from 34 overs, a good effort but with a very tall order of another 112 required from just 11 overs.

Alan Barker (76) and Matt Wise (50) had given Stradbroke a very good start, but both had been dismissed by Andy Thompson, who ended with three for 28.

Sudbourne Hall’s match at home to Ipswich was also abandoned – and this time it was the home team who were most fortunate.

Tom Jenkin scored 105 but his team-mates were only able to lift the home total to 165 for five. Mick Peck fell for a rare duck as Jack Elford picked up three for 22.

Doug Hondo cracked 63 as Ipswich reached 84 for two from 19 overs when play ended. The visitors would have fancied their chances of scoring 82 from 26 overs if the weather had allowed.

James Coleman scored his maiden century and went on to 137 not out as Wortham thrashed BT & Waldringfield. Steve Crane scored 75 in an opening stand of 206 with Coleman as Wortham rattled up 249 for one, and then skittled the home team for 65, Ben Buckmaster grabbing five for 22.

Crane ended a good all-round performance with three for 12.

In Section B Southwold scored an 18-run win over Caribbeans in a high-scoring encounter. Brothers Gareth (75) and Craig Gorst-Allman (80 not out) helped Southwold to 220 for four and a spirited Caribbeans reply ended just 18 runs short at 202 for two. Ray Millwood scored 61 and Clive Denness was 94 not out at the close.

Needham Market restricted Worlingworth to 128 for nine and secured a six-wicket win, Stuart Cooper following up his three for 19 with a top score of 36.

Trevor Scarlett (96) and Gavin Johnson (95) both just missed out on centuries, but still ensured that Stowupland hammered Bawdsey by 115 runs in Section C. Adam Green scored 60 as the home team replied with 131 all out, Johnson ending matters quickly with five for nine.

James Gilderson (three for nine) and Jacob Merrell (three for 23) sent Kesgrave II tumbling to 95 all out and Alan Leach made sure Castle wre seven-wicket winners with an unbeaten 46.

Mick Utting (77) and Stuart Dineen (117 not out) helped Melton St Audry’s to 242 for two and a 152-run win over Ipswich & East Suffolk. Jack Lord (four for 18) and Matt Flin (three for 19) hurried IES out for 90, George Bone being left unbeaten on 35.

Nacton beat Felixstowe by three wickets thanks mainly to Clive Nunn (five for 31) and Mark Simmonds (60 not out). Hunter Elliston scored 65 for Felixstowe.

Another big hundred from Charlie Tunstall kept Earl Stonham well clear at the top of the Greene King Suffolk Premier League with victory over Worlingworth on Saturday.

Tunstall scored 159 as the home team smashed 296 for eight from their 45 overs. Robert Wrinch provided the main support with 41. Tunstall and Tom Lewis both picked up three wickets as Worlingworth were bowled out for 233 in reply, Rob Bensley (63 not out) and A Sangaran (42) being the main contributors.

In the battle of the bottom two teams Stradbroke Vikings picked up their first win of the season at Brantham. Lee Cooper had scored 62 out of Brantham’s 165 for nine, and Lee Smith saw the visitors to victory with an unbeaten 58. Earlier Joe Pearson had scored 38.

Lakenheath II continued their good season with a fine win at Battisford. The bowlers were generally on top as the home side could only muster 143 for nine, thanks mainly to 47 from N Mayhew. Keith Starr took three for 20 from his 13 overs and his opening partner S Bowers one for 22 from 10.

A Fairfull picked up three early wickets and then it was C Flack who took over, leading Lakenheath to victory with an unbeaten 70.

Greene King Suffolk League

*Battisford 143 (N Mayhew 47, A Whitefield 23, K Starr 3 for 20, P Tobitt 3 for 53). Lakenheath II 144 for 7 (C Flack 70no, A Fairfull 3 for 30). Lakenheath II (20) bt Battisford (5) by 3 wkts.

*Brantham 165 for 9 (L Cooper 62, A Uren 23, T Nicholls 22, S Gooch 20, J Pearson 3 for 47). Stradbroke Vikings 171 for 8 (L Smith 58no, J Pearson 38, T Nicholls 3 for 30). Stradbroke (19) bt Brantham (7) by 2 wkts.

*Earl Stonham 296 for 8 (C Tunstall 159, R Wrinch 41, P Ratcliff 3 for 56). Worlingworth 233 (R Bensley 63no, A Sangaran 42, D Snell 29, C Tunstall 3 for 28, T Lewis 3 for 57). Earl Stonham (20) bt Worlingworth (9) by 63 runs.

MSC Suffolk Alliance

Section A

Wortham 249 for 1 (J Coleman 137no, S Crane 75). *BT & Waldringfield 65 (B Buckmaster 5 for 22, S Crane 3 for 12). Wortham (20) bt BT & Waldringfield (0) by 184 runs.

Easton v Saxmundham cancelled.

Kesgrave 261 for 3 (S Worne 131no, D Gallant 75, R Collard 23). *Stradbroke 150 for 3 (A Barker 76, M Wise 50, A Thompson 3 for 28). Match abandoned.

*Sudbourne Hall 165 for 5 (T Jenkin 105, J Rice 21, J Elford 3 for 22). Ipswich 84 for 2 (D Hondo 63). Match abandoned.

Section B

Worlingworth 128 for 9 (A Sangaran 28, G Robinson 23no, J Rowntree 22, D Snell 20, S Cooper 3 for 19, A Burgess 3 for 27). *Needham Market 131 for 4 (S Cooper 36, S Mortimer 25). Needham Market (17) bt Worlingworth (5) by 6 wkts.

*Southwold 220 for 4 (C Gorst-Allman 80no, G Gorst-Allman 75, T Porter 20). Caribbeans 202 for 2 (C Denness 94no, R Millwood 61, A Gibson 22). Southwold (16) bt Caribbeans (7) by 18 runs.St Margarets v Woodbridge no result received.

Section C

Stowupland 246 for 4 (T Scarlett 96, G Johnson 95, T Wray 20no, P Mark 3 for 56). *Bawdsey 131 (A Green 60, A Baker 28, G Johnson 5 for 9). Stowupland (20) bt Bawdsey (5) by 115 runs.

BT & Waldringfield II 172 for 9 (D Grimers 67no, S Surendra 49, R Edge 4 for 41, R Lockwood 3 for 30). *Eye 56 for 2 (K Thompson 20). Match abandoned.

*Kesgrave II 95 (B Bethell 24, J Gilderson 3 for 9, J Merrell 3 for 23). Castle 96 for 3 (A Leach 46no). Castle (19) bt Kesgrave II (2) by 9 wkts.

Melton St Audry’s 242 for 2 (S Dineen 117no, M Utting 77). *Ipswich & East Suffolk 90 (G Bone 35no, J Lord 4 for 18, M Fllin 3 for 19). St Audry’s (20) bt IES (2) by 152 runs.

Section D

Felixstowe Corinthians 185 (J Sexton 56, W Pearce 33, P Dudman 23, S Trudgett 20, G Webb 20, M Brett 5 for 38). *Saxmundham II 102 for 5 (P Sampson 38no, J Martin 28no, P Dale 5 for 22). Match abandoned.

Felixstowe 164 for 9 (H Elliston 65, L Gregory 22, C Nunn 5 for 31, E Baker 3 for 27). *Nacton 165 for 7 (M Simmonds 60no, E Bridger 47, P Donnelly 4 for 9). Nacton (19) bt Felixstowe (7) by 3 wkts.

Yoxford 244 for 5 (A Cook 114no, Santos 38, H Singleton 26, S Button 23). *Worlingworth II 83 for 4 (C Watson 35no). Yoxford (19) bt Worlingworth II (5) by 161 runs in a match reduced to 30 overs per side.

Coddenham v DBSL no result received.

Hunts County Bats Suffolk League

All matches were rained off bar the following

Division One

Acton 73 (C Baugh 3 for 7). Mildenhall 77 for 2 (E Finnis 33no). Mildenhall (20) bt Acton (1) by 8 wkts.

Division Two

Tuddenham 136 (D Cross 53no, M Preston 37, P Dean 4 for 13, I Reed 3 for 25). Brockley 139 for 3 (R Webb 52no, A McCaffrey 39no). Brockley (20) bt Tuddenham (3) by 7 wkts.

Division Three

Earl Stonham 157 for 7 (D Eade 36, C Macrow 34, S Lewis 33no). Nowton 161 for 6 (A Leeks 55 ). Nowton (20) bt Earl Stonham (6) by 4 wkts.

Division Four

Risby 161 (S Samuels 38, R Martin 32, Wood 5 for 40). Long Melford 163 for 1 (D Bigg 66no, Byford 47no, A Skeggs 33). Long Melford (20) bt Risby (3) by 9 wkts.

Division Five

Milden 108 (A Cunningham 32, J French 4 for 22, M Griffiths 3 for 26). Acton II 52 (B Dakers 7 for 15, J Aires 3 for 22). Milden (20) bt Acton II (5) by 56 runs.

Elmswell 212 for 7. Rougham II 103 (N Greathead 4 for 5). Elmswell (20) bt Rougham II (4) by 109 runs.