Old Southendian & Southchurch v Basildon & Pitsea (Cricket)

The Shepherd Neame Essex League Division Three, Saturday 13th June 2015

Basildon & Pitsea 300/8 (50 overs)
Old Southendian & Southchurch 277/9 (50 overs)
Basildon & Pitsea won by 23 runs

I popped over to my local park, Southchurch Park, to watch some Shepherd Neame Division Three cricket as League Leaders Old Southendian & Southchurch hosted Basildon & Pitsea.  The hosts were unbeaten in their first five games and bowled first in fairly cool and cloudy conditions.  The visitors who themselves were 4th with three wins from five games with just one defeat started slowly but solidly and were 43/1 off their first ten overs.  Decent batting and fairly average fielding from the hosts saw the visitors to 175/4 with fifteen overs left and they then smacked 125 off the last fifteen overs to reach a very daunting 300/8 in their 50 overs.  Understandably the hosts looked fairly glum as they came off the field knowing they would have to bat incredibly well to win this game and remain unbeaten.  Their run chase started well though and their openers put on 111 in the first 20 odd overs to lay a foundation for an assault on the 301 needed for victory.  They continued at a steady pace and at 204/4 with twelve overs left they looked very much like they could chase this target down, however Basildon & Pitsea then turned the screw and the hosts lost five wickets for 44 runs to slump to 247/9 and see their challenge fall away.  Despite a spirited last wicket stand which finished with a four and a six, the visitors ran out fairly comfortable winners by 23 runs and inflict Old Southendian & Southchurch's first defeat of the season.  An enjoyable day and some decent cricket played by both sides overall.  

Rye House Raiders 52 Kent Kings 40 (Speedway)

National Trophy, Saturday 6th June 2015

So on Saturday evening I decided to go and experience some Speedway for the first time in my life.  It was something I'd always wanted to experience so finally on Saturday evening I got the chance.

I choose Rye House Speedway as the place to break my speedway virginity and a nice sunny evening greeted me and the spectators.  Rye House Raiders (their second team who play in the National League) were taking on Kent Kings in the National Trophy.  The two had met in the league a short time ago and drew 45-45 so a tight meet was expected once again.

The first heat took place just after 7pm and the noise and the smell and the speed of the bikes was awesome to witness close up.  Also being coated in dust and gravel from the track added to the experience somewhat!!!

The home side hit the front in the second heat and never relinquished that lead as they gradually stretched away from their Kent opponents eventually running out 52-40 winners so a good night for the hosts.  Here is what www.speedwaygb.co had to say:-

RYE House defeated Kent 52-40 in Saturday’s National Trophy match at Hoddesdon.

Rob Branford top-scored for the Raiders with 12, and they move to within three points of leaders Eastbourne at the half-way stage of their schedule. 

Ben Morley dominated the Kings’ scorechart with 17.

Here are the heat by heat scores:-
Heat 1
1st Ben Morley (Kings) 3pts
2nd Rob Branford (Raiders) 2pts
3rd Sam Woods (Raiders) 1pt
4th Jamie Cousins (Kings) 0pts
Raiders 3 Kings 3

Heat 2
1st Alfie Bowtell (Raiders) 3pts
2nd Adam Shepherd (Kings) 2pts
Danyon Hume (Raiders) & Danno Verge (Kings) collided so were not placed
Raiders 6 Kings 5

Heat 3
1st Kyle Hughes (Raiders) 3pts
2nd Aaron Baseby (Kings) 2pts
3rd Luke Priest (Raiders) 1pt
Danny Ayres (Kings) collided with Luke Priest (Raiders) ending the race early and was disqualified as a result.  The result stood.
Raiders 10 Kings 7

Heat 4
1st Luke Chessell (Raiders) 3pts
2nd James Shanes (Kings) 2pts
3rd Alfie Bowtell (Raiders) 1pt
4th Adam Shepherd (Kings) 0pts
Raiders 14 Kings 9

Heat 5
1st Ben Morley (Kings) 3pts
2nd Kyle Hughes (Raiders) 2pts
3rd Luke Priest (Raiders) 1pt
4th Jamie Couzins (Kings) 0pts
Raiders 17 Kings 12

Heat 6
1st Rob Branford (Raiders) 3pts
2nd James Shanes (Kings) 2pts
3rd Sam Woods (Raiders) 1pt
Danno Verge (Kings) did not finish
Raiders 21 Kings 14

Heat 7
1st Luke Chessell (Raiders) 3pts
2nd Danny Ayres (Kings) 2pts
3rd Danyon Hume (Raiders) 1pt
Aaron Baseby (Kings) did not finish
Raiders 25 Kings 16

Heat 8
1st Danno Verge (Kings) 3pts
2nd Alfie Bowtell (Raiders) 2pts
3rd Sam Woods (Raiders) 1pt
4th Jame Couzins (Kings) 0pts
Raiders 28 Kings 19

Heat 9
1st Kyle Hughes (Raiders) 3pts
2nd Luke Priest (Raiders) 2pts
3rd James Shanes (Kings) 1pt
4th Adam Shepherd (Kings) 0pts
Raiders 33 Kings 20

Heat 10
1st Rob Branford (Raiders) 3pts
2nd Danny Ayres (Kings) 2pts
3rd Sam Woods (Raiders) 1pt
Aaron Baseby (Kings) did not finish
Raiders 37 Kings 22

Heat 11
1st Ben Morley (Kings) 6pts (Double Points)
2nd Luke Chessell (Raiders) 2pts
3rd Danyon Hume (Raiders) 1pt
4th Danno Verge (Kings) 0pts
Raiders 40 Kings 28

Heat 12
1st Alfie Bowtell (Raiders) 3pts
2nd Kyle Hughes (Raiders) 2pts
3rd Aaron Baseby (Kings) 1pt
4th Danno Verge (Kings) 0pts
Raiders 45 Kings 29

Heat 13
1st Rob Branford (Raiders) 3pts
2nd Ben Morley (Kings) 2pts
3rd Luke Chessell (Raiders) 1pt
4th James Shanes (Kings) 0pts
Raiders 49 Kings 31

Heat 14
1st Danny Ayres (Kings) 3pts
2nd Luke Priest (Raiders) 2pts
3rd Adam Shepherd (Kings) 1pt
4th Danyon Hume (Raiders) 0pts
Raiders 51 Kings 35

Heat 15
1st Ben Morley (Kings) 3pts
2nd Danny Ayres (Kings) 2pts
3rd Rob Branford (Raiders) 1pt
Luke Chessell (Raiders) did not finish
Final Score: Raiders 52 Kings 40

So a very enjoyable evening will definitely be going to more speedway this summer!!