Copdock & Old Ipswichian captain, James East, believes that his side are bang on course for a top-three finish in the Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League this season.

Impressive Copdock cruised to a big win at Horsford, on Saturday, by a commanding 100 runs, to move up to fifth in the table, a mere six points behind third-placed Vaxuhall Mallards.

This represented a fine return to form, following the previous weekend’s disappointing 112-run defeat at home to Mallards, when Copdock lost their first five wickets for just 15 in a below-par showing.

It was a case of normal service resuming on Saturday, as an excellent stand of 150 runs for the third wicket, between Chris Swallow and Cody Chetty, helped Copdock to 249 for eight off their 64 overs.

Swallow struck 110, at the top of the order, while Chetty blasted 93 off 129 deliveries, including three sixes and 10 boundaries, to take the score from 38 for two to 188 for three.

Matthew Wareing then bowled well at the start of Horsford’s reply, pegging them back to 22 for three by ensnaring the trio of Nathan Perry-Warnes, William Bryan and Stephan Marillier.

The hosts threatened to rally, with Chris Brown and Tom Birks putting on 127 runs for the fourth wicket.

But Jack Beaumont than broke up this threatening partnership, bowling Birks for 39. Spinner Beaumont (three for 21) and skipper East (figures of 15.5-4-32-4) then ran through the Horsford tail, the last seven wickets falling for just 20 runs.

“Horsford is a difficult place to go, because it’s never easy scoring quick runs on a tough wicket,” explained skipper East.

“In fact the previous weekend, on a slow, turning wicket, Horsford had bowled out Cambridge Granta for just 94.

“Chris (Swallow) batted really well for us, staying patient and waiting to hit the bad ball, while Cody (Chetty) scored at nearly a run a ball.

“Matt (Wareing) then bowled well with the new ball, to get three wickets. Although they got a partnership going, I came on with Jack Beaumont, who bowled his best spell of bowling for us. He got the breakthrough and that opened up an end.

“The ball swung a bit later in the day, and we managed to run through them.

“It was good to bounce back, after the defeat to Vauxhall Mallards when we had fancied our chances of chasing down a target on a flat track. That was a very disappointing day.

“But our aims for this season have not changed. We are still looking at a top three finish,” added East. Copdock finished fourth last season.

Meanwhile, fellow Suffolk side Bury St Edmunds remain rock bottom of the East Anglian Premier League, without a win from their first eight games, although there were encouraging signs in Saturday’s six-wicket defeat at defending champions Swardeston.

Sean Park (77) and Tyler Lortan (73) both played with fluency as Bury reached 252 for eight off their 64 overs. Skipper Michael Comber also made 42 at the top of the innings.

But Swardeston, back on top of the table, secured victory inside 42 overs, with Jordan Taylor ending 100 not out after fellow opener Peter Lambert had made a quickfire 63.