IT IS not often that the entire Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship programme is washed out, but that was the case on Saturday when there was not a ball bowled in the competition from Lakenheath to Sudbourne Hall, Maldon to Yoxford.

That gives a chance to assess the season so far at just past the halfway mark.

It looks like a two-horse race for the Division One title, with Wivenhoe leading the way from Mildenhall.

“It’s going well at the moment and we’re playing good cricket” said Wivenhoe captain William Morgan.

He is delighted with his team’s progress since he took over as captain two years ago.

“When I took over we decided to blood our youngsters and picked them on potential. Now they have developed and done the hard yards and contribute quite well.”

Three of this season’s key players have come through Wivenhoe’s youth system.

Twins Matt and Tom Durrell, aged 18, are the club’s opening batsman and left-arm seam bowler respectively, while 22-year-old Harry Burnett is a left-arm spinner.

There is back-up from experienced players such as Essex batsman Billy Godleman, who lives just around the corner from the ground, and from further afield Queenslander Nathan Rabnott, the club’s overseas player.

Morgan is full of praise for Rabnott. “On and off the field he’s fitted in brilliantly. He’s helped the youngsters and keeps coming up with the good when we need him.”

And, if successful, what about the East Anglian Premier League?

“My inclination is that it would be silly not to go for it. I wouldn’t want to take away the opportunity for this group of players.”

But Morgan is well aware of the ability of rivals Mildenhall and Frinton. “They are both good units and will take a lot of beating.”

From Wivenhoe’s point of view Morgan wants to keep things simple. “We like playing at home, and we like to put runs on the board and then defend them.”

That policy has worked well so far, including the important win over Mildenhall a couple of weeks ago when Rabnott scored a century in a total of 269 to set up a comfortable win. But Morgan knows there is a long way to go.

“We could lose the next three games in a row and then it would all change.”

But he’s not expecting that as he has faith in his young side keeping up the good work.

All scheduled matches in the Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League were also rained off.