Frinton continue flying start to season

They remain the only undefeated side so far and are 14 points clear at the top of the table after Saturday’s five-wicket win at Halstead.

The home team, who sit at the foot of the division after failing to win any of their opening four fixtures, were bowled out for just 93, with Jermaine Shillingford taking four wickets, Michael Armstrong three and Ben Wilcock two.

Although Frinton lost five wickets in knocking off the runs required, the visitors won comfortably as skipper Mark Jones top-scored with 20.

Jones, who is in his third season at Frinton, has just taken over the captaincy from the long-serving Russell Everson.

He said: “We won the toss and bowled in a match we agreed to reduce to 40 overs because of the threat of rain.

“We bowled really well. To be honest, we haven’t got any superstars – we just bowled a good line and length and their batsmen got themselves out.

“We lost five wickets in reply because we played too many shots as there were showers about and we were trying to get it finished.”

Jones, who is now 31, has previously played for Felixstowe in three spells, Colchester & East Essex, Clacton (six years in the Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League) and Brightlingsea before joining Frinton.

He continued: “The club’s ambition is to get into the EAPL. It might not happen this year, but the club is going in the right direction.

“We are using young, local players.

“We have about 17 or 18 players of first-team quality – our 2nd XI are top of Division Three – and we are now running a 3rd XI on Saturdays as well as two Sunday sides.

“The club talked me into carrying on this season and said would I like a crack at the captaincy?

“Russell Everson was captain for 10 years, so it is a big change for the club as he did a great job.

“But hopefully we will be up there challenging. Mistley are the favourites to win the title this season so far as I am concerned as they have the best side on paper.”

And Jones said Frinton’s four straight wins had been achieved without this season’s overseas signing from New Zealand – a player whose identity he was reluctant to reveal until after his scheduled arrival later this week.

Newly-promoted Hadleigh, who visit Frinton this Saturday, sit second after making it three wins out of four thanks to an eight-wicket success at home to Coggeshall.

Skipper Josh Davey (41) and Marlon Dias put together an opening partnership of 107 and then Dias, who ended undefeated on 92, and Tom Piddington (40 not out) saw Hadleigh home.

Mistley are just a point behind Hadleigh in third place after a seven-wicket win at home to Maldon, with Kemlsey Robb scoring 100 not out.

Wivenhoe, who are fourth, had an unbroken third-wicket stand of 164 between Michael Condy (103 not out) and Ryan Savill (65 not out) to thank for their eight-wicket win against Elmstead Grasshoppers.

In Division Two ex-Suffolk batsman Tim Catley, who the previous week made 135 not out, struck an undefeated 126 in Exning’s abandoned match against Mildenhall 2nd XI, while Tivesh Nair’s 15-3-37-6 saw Dunmow dismissed for 150 as they lost by 107 runs to Copford.

There were two outstanding performances in Division Three.

Nick Patel of Frinton 2nd XI returned bowling figures of six for none from five maidens as Halstead 2nd XI were reduced to 17 for eight, before recovering to 47 all out.

Yoxford’s Giles Randell claimed figures of eight for 10 against Felixstowe, who were skittled out for 33, but neither was a divisional record.

Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship

DIVISION ONE Coggeshall 180 for 9 (W Blackwell 34, R Jagger 31, J Rees 31, L Ibbs 3 for 32). *Hadleigh 182 for 2 (M Dias 92no, J Davey 41, T Piddington 40no). Hadleigh (19pts) bt Coggeshall (5pts) by 8 wkts. *Halstead 93. Frinton 94 for 5. Frinton (20pts) bt Halstead (2pts) by 5 wkts. Ipswich 138 for 8 (N Parry 36, C Bell 25no, J Woodley 3 for 37). *Haverhill 29 for 0 - match abandoned. Ipswich (8pts), Haverhill (10pts). Maldon 264 for 8 (J Glenn 80, C Harris 71, M Coker 58no, K Young 3 for 57). *Mistley 265 for 3 (K Robb 100no, K Young 66, D Goff 57no). Mistley (19pts) bt Maldon (6pts) by 7 wkts. Mildenhall 225 for 7 (A Squire 65, A Lack 64, E Laubscher 37, C Baird 34). *Witham 108 (S Tennant 26, K Hawes 21, P Bellehewe 20no, E Laubscher 3 for 11, S Lankester 3 for 49). Mildenhall (20pts) bt Witham (4pts) by 117 runs. Elmstead Grasshoppers 233 for 8 (J Elliott 93, R Faust 74, R Savill 4 for 61). *Wivenhoe 235 for 2 (M Condy 103no, R Savill 65no, O Morgan 44). Wivenhoe (19pts) bt Elmstead Grasshoppers (6pts) by 8 wkts. DIVISION TWO *Braintree 274 for 4. Long Melford 146. Braintree (20pts) bt Long Melford (4pts) by 128 runs. Ipswich & ES 171 for 9 v *Brockley - match abandoned. Ipswich & ES (9pts), Brockley (10pts). *Copford 262 for 7 (A Parker 54, J Bell 53, R Measor 53no, A Reid 47, M Gibson 4 for 52). Dunmow 155 (C Beck 22, T Nair 6 for 37). Copford (20pts) bt Dunmow (6pts) by 107 runs. Woodbridge & OW 146 (B Hammett 63, M Parker 25, A Sarangan 3 for 30, W Mitchell 3 for 32). *Easton 148 for 5 (T Bosher 30no, J Kimmerling 26, G Mitchell 26, W Thomas 20, M Parker 3 for 37). Easton (20pts) bt Woodbridge & OW (4pts) by 5 wkts. Exning 253 for 3 (T Catley 126no, B Cross 60, S Readman 43) v *Mildenhall II - match abandoned. Exning (11pts), Mildenhall II (7pts). Lakenheath 198 for 6 (R Horrex 78no, R Horrex 48, S Leech 30, C Manels 4 for 48) v *Worlington - match abandoned. Lakenheath (10pts), Worlington (9pts) DIVISION THREE *Abberton (191 for 8. Little Bardfield Village 108. Abberton (20pts) bt Little Bardfield Village (5pts) by 83 runs. Sudbury II 250 for 4. *Brightlingsea 130 for 9. Sudbury II (19pts) bt Brightlingsea (4pts) by 120 runs. *Bury St Edmunds II 219 for 7. Kelvedon & Feering 71 for 3 - match abandoned. *Bury St Edmunds II (12pts), Kelvedon & Feering (9pts). *Coggeshall II 169 for 9. Needham Market 167 for 9. Coggeshall II (19pts) bt Needham Market (7pts) by 2 runs. Yoxford 182 for 5. *Felixstowe 33. Yoxford (20pts) bt *Felixstowe (2pts) by 149 runs. *Frinton II 216 for 7. Halstead II 47. Frinton II (20pts) bt Halstead II (3pts) by 159 runs. DIVISION FOUR *Copdock & OI II 168 for 9. Stowmarket 144 for 6. Copdock & OI (18pts) bt Stowmarket (6pts) by 24 runs. Witham II 100. *East Bergholt 101 for 6. East Bergholt (20pts) bt Witham II (4pts) by 4 wkts. Mistley II 164. *Great Bromley 167 for 4. Great Bromley (20pts) bt Mistley II (5pts) by 6 wkts. *Ipswich II 195 for 6. Hadleigh II (6pts) 166 for 8. Ipswich II (19pts) bt Hadleigh II (6pts) by 29 runs. Ipswich & ES v Wivenhoe II - Wivenhoe II won by concession. Ipswich & ES II (0pts), v Wivenhoe II (20pts). *Woolpit II 195 for 9. Clacton II (10pts) - match abandoned. Woolpit II (10pts), Clacton II (10pts). DIVISION FIVE *Boxted 197 for 7. Mildenhall III 140. Boxted (20pts) bt Mildenhall III (5pts) by 57 runs. *Earl Stonham 204 for 5. Ipswich III 133. Earl Stonham (20pts) bt Ipswich III (4pts) by 71 runs. *Elmstead Grasshoppers II 136. Haverhill II 140 for 7. Elmstead Grasshoppers II (5pts) bt Haverhill II (20pts) by 3 wkts. *Harwich & Dovercourt 205 for 8. Bury St Edmunds III (4pts) 88. Harwich & Dovercourt (20pts) bt Bury St Edmunds III (4pts) by 117 runs. Tuddenham 223 for 4. *Maldon II 162. Tuddenham (20pts) bt Maldon II (5pts) by 61 runs. St Margaret’s 160. *Nacton 64. St Margaret’s (20pts) bt Nacton (5pts) by 96 runs. DIVISION SIX Felixstowe Corinthians v Brightlingsea II - Felixstowe Corinthians won by concession. Felixstowe Corinthians (20pts), Brightlingsea II (0pts) *Kelvedon & Feering II 197 for 6. Maldon III 162. Kelvedon & Feering II (20pts) bt Maldon III (6pts) by 35 runs. *Kesgrave 200 for 8. Abberton II 203 for 8. Abberton II (19pts) bt Kesgave (9pts) by 2 wkts. *Long Melford II 142 for 9. Braintree II 147 for 2. Braintree II (19pts) bt Long Melford II (3pts) by 8 wkts. Melton St Audry’s 192 for 7. *Sudbury III 179. Melton St Audry’s (20pts) bt Sudbury III (7pts) by 13 runs. DIVISION SEVEN *Coggeshall III 166 for 7. West Mersea 168 for 4. West Mersea (18pts) bt Coggeshall III (5pts) by 6 wkts. *Mildenhall IV 195 for 7. Copford II 4 for 0 - match abandoned. Mildenhall IV (10pts), Copford II (9pts). Felixstowe II 181 for 8. *Walsham-le-Willows 130 for 2 - match abandoned. Felixstowe II (11pts), *Walsham-le-Willows (12pts) East Bergholt II 166 for 6, *Worlingworth 9 for 0 - match abandoned. East Bergholt II (9pts), Worlingworth (9pts). DIVISION EIGHT EAST Woodbridge & OW II 163 for 6. *DBSL 164 for 4. DBSL (18pts) bt Woodbridge & OW II (5pts) by 6 wkts. Easton II 133 v *Eye & District - match abandoned. Easton II (8pts), Eye & District (11pts). *Ipswich IV 281 for 3. Brantham 121. Ipswich III (20pts) bt Brantham (2pts) won by 160 runs. *Stradbroke Vikings 215 v S. Margaret’s II - match abandoned. Stradbroke Vikings (11pts), St Margaret’s II (11pts). *Tendring 171 for 8. Sudbourne Hall 166 for 9. Tendring (19pts) bt Sudbourne Hall (7pts) by 5 runs. DIVISION EIGHT SOUTH *Eight Ash Green 216 for 4. Witham III 82 for 9. Eight Ash Green (19pts) bt Witham II (2pts) by 134 runs. *Frinton III 261 for 6. Kelvedon & Feering III 110. Frinton III (20pts) bt Kelvedon & Feering III (4pts) by 151 runs. Harwich & Dovercourt II 193 for 6. *Maldon IV 51. Harwich & Dovercourt II (20pts) bt Maldon IV (3pts) by 142 runs. *West Bergholt 295 for 8. Great Bromley II 45. West Bergholt (20pts) bt Great Bromley II (4pts) by 250 runs. DIVISION EIGHT WEST Haverhill III 183 for 5. *Battisford 31 for 0 - match abandoned. Haverhill III (10pts), Battisford (8pts). *Bury St Edmunds IV 94. Nowton 96 for 2. Nowton (20pts) bt Bury St Edmunds IV (1pt) by 8 wkts. *Elveden 246 for 4. Halstead III 37 for 1 - match abandoned. *Elveden (11pts), Halstead III (8pts). *Lakenheath II 164 for 5 v Worlington II - match abandoned. Lakenheath II (9pts), Worlington II (8pts) Brockley II 223 for 8. *Stowmarket II 83. Brockley II (20pts) bt Stowmarket II (4pts) by 140 runs. DIVISION C Frinton 342 for 2. *Abberton 170. Frinton (20pts) bt Abberton (4pts) by 172 runs. St Osyth 174 for 6. *Felixstowe 159 for 9. St Osyth (19pts) bt Felixstowe (6pts) by 15 runs. Mistley 240 for 6. *Ipswich 54 for 2 - match abandoned. Mistley (12pts), Ipswich (9pts). *Wivenhoe 190 for 6. Brightlingsea 182 for 8. Wivenhoe (19pts) bt Brightlingsea (7pts) by 8 runs. LADIES CHALLENGE *Cambridge NCI 67. Ipswich 71 for 0. Ipswich (20pts) bt Cambridge NCI (1pt) by 10 wkts. Easton v Woolpit - result not received. LADIES’ T20 Battisford 137 for 2. *Ipswich & ES 124 for 2. Battisford (16pts) bt Ipswich & ES (5pts) by 8 wkts. Felixstowe 61 for 7. *Mistley 62 for 2. Mistley (18pts) bt Felixstowe (2pts) by 8 wkts. *Mistley 94 for 5. Maldon 89 for 5. Mistley (17pts) bt Maldon (4pts) by 5 runs. * Denotes home team.