It is probably a testament to the competitiveness of the Hertfordshire and Essex Cricket League that with 2 weeks to go there is still a lot to be decided. Things should be a little clearer after this weekend’s games.
In Division 1 Matching Green Is (379) need 10 points from their home match against Nazeing Common Is (321) to secure the title. Nazeing slipped up against relegation threatened Theydon Bois Is (170) and will be hoping that Theydon can do them a favour when they take on second place Ilford Catholics Is (336). At the bottom Theydon’s great escape is on as they are just 1 point behind Molehill Green (171) and 3 behind South Loughton Is (173) who lost to Matching and Hockerill 1s (182) respectively.
Division 2 saw Asps (331) get back to winning ways against third place Farnham (290), who in turn will be grateful that Three Caps Is (322) and Epping Foresters (287) tied their match in thrilling finale to their game. At the bottom Cloghams (129) and Willingale (145) both lost. Roding Valley Is (153) tied their match with Takeley Is, but Bengeo (193) won to all but guarantee Division 2 cricket next season, a win at home to Roding next week will confirm it.
In Division 3 Ilford Catholic IIs (380) need 10 points from their game against Stansted Hall and Elsenham Is (337) to secure the title and another promotion. Braughing (333) will probably be hoping that Ilford win to give them some breathing space in the promotion decider at the Hall last game of the season. Potter Street’s relegation was confirmed when they lost to Woodford Wells IVs. Dunmow IIs (161) will be hoping to upset the form book away to Braughing and that Abridge (189) drop plenty of points at home to Woodford this weekend.
The top three all won in Division 4 so Roding Valley IIs (343) lead Thaxted (336) with Nazeing Common IIs (327) in third. All three teams face sides in the bottom half of the table this weekend. With Ardeley Walkern already down, High Beach (165) will be hoping to upset Roding Valley and that Thaxted beat High Roding (205) to keep their survival hopes alive.
We, at Little Hallingbury (399) clinched the Division 5 title against Hockerill IIs (317) this weekend. We would just like to thank all our friends in the HECL for their congratulations and kind words, not least Hockerill. Matching Green IIs (299) closed the gap on Hockerill to 18 points and are away to Thorley IIs who were relegated last week when they failed to beat Ilford Catholic IIIs. Hockerill travel to Wethersfield needing 8 points to secure promotion.
Division 6 finished last weekend. Congratulations go to Three Caps IIs for securing the title when Birchanger IIs were unable to raise a side. This meant that Woodford Wells V's win over Hockerill IIIs was in vain and they had to settle for being runners up having lost just 1 game all season. Hockerill’s 5 points from that game meant that Stansted Hall and Elsenham IIs could not overtake them despite a 21 run win at home to Epping Foresters IIs.