Two Ongar based cricket clubs, Willingale and Fyfield, have agreed a new partnership to persuade more young children to play the sport in the area.

The initial one year agreement will see the two clubs exchange players during the season if necessary, with Fyfield also using Willingale’s facilities for all Sunday fixtures.

Fyfield’s All Stars Cricket Programme, which gives five to eight year olds the chance to play the sport for the first time, will also be run on site at Willingale alongside its established colts programme.

Willingale club chairman Steve Corner said: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Fyfield Cricket Club to help grow the game in the area. Whilst we have a solid playing group already, we don’t want to rest on our laurels and need to keep looking at innovative ways to grow our club.”

Fyfield Cricket Club vice-chairman Katharine Perry added: “Partnering with Willingale not only gives a stage for our Sunday team to play, but perhaps more importantly, allows us to grow our Colts progamme, giving children from 5 to 13 the perfect opportunity to experience the great game of cricket for the first time. It’s proved popular so far and long may that continue.”

Elsewhere, it has been a mixed start to the season for Willingale on the pitch, with an opening day victory against Essendon being cancelled out by a narrow loss to Potter Street on Saturday in the Herts and Essex League Division Three.

In a match which was reduced to 30 overs due to the weather conditions, an impressive score of 84 from Jon Airey was backed up by 45 from Steve Stammers to help propel Willingale to a score of 195-4.

However, despite their best efforts, Potter Street managed to snatch a late victory with just three balls remaining, leaving Willingale in 5th place in the division with 32 points after two games.