12:22pm Wednesday 10th September 2008
CRICKET ROUND-UP
WANSTEAD captain Arfan Akram is already looking towards defending his side’s Premier League crown next season after drawing their year to a close with a washout against Colchester.
Despite failing to break the 300-point barrier and finish the season unbeaten, the Herons have enjoyed a magnificent year, finishing with 278 points, 42 clear of last year’s winners Ardleigh Green.
Akram said: “I believe we have the players to achieve this [win the title] again, we are still a young side."
Woodford Wells skipper Will Rogers is adamant his side can hack it with the big boys of Essex cricket after they were promoted to the Premier League as Division One champions.
A chance to finish with a flourish against Hutton was spoilt by the weather at the weekend but the rain certainly didn’t dampen Rogers’ spirits.
He said: “We want to be optimistic and set our sights high and I believe that with a few more additions to the team we could even finish inside the top three.”
Elsewhere in Division Two, the biggest game of the entire season between Fives and Walthamstow to determine the one remaining team to be promoted ended in anti-climax, as the weather wreaked havoc.
The two sides started and ended the day on equal points – despite Stow reaching 99-2 in their innings – but it was Fives who claimed the coveted second promotion spot as they had defeated their neighbours earlier on in the season.
Paddock skipper Terry Ballard said: “We know we can compete with the big teams and we know we can beat anyone on our day.”
Meanwhile, Loughton breathed a sigh of relief, as their close rivals' washout meant they were guaranteed promotion as champions, despite their game with Harold Wood also falling victim to the weather on Saturday.
In Division Three, Buckhurst Hill were promoted as runners-up after the rain thwarted their chances of going up as champions.
After Billericay had held the lead for much of the season, Hill enjoyed a resurgence in form and leapfrogged them.
But going into the final day tied for the lead, washouts for both the top two sides meant Russell Beckett's men were forced to settle for second place, with Billericay having a slightly better head-to-head record.
The Roding Lane skipper said: “I think the division will be really open next year and I can't see why we won't be up there challenging for promotion.
“We’ll be bringing in some good players as well which will make us stronger.”
Ongar managed to reach 29-1 chasing 204 for victory before the rain fell in their game with Billericay and they were forced to settle for ninth, while Woodford Green finished bottom of the pile, having had their final game of the season against Hill called off.
Epping were seventh in the final standings while Old Parkonians were one below them in eighth as the weather intervened to abandon their respective matches.
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