Burnham Sports CC

Burnham Sports cricket club were left deflated after failing in their quest to win promotion from the T.Rippon Mid-Essex League first division.
Sports would have gone up had they beaten Old Chelmsfordians in their final match of the season at Millfield last Saturday but, after being firmly on top at one stage, fell at the final hurdle and lost by 25 runs.
It means the Old Boys, who also needed to win to secure promotion, will instead be playing in the Premier League next summer.
Burnham began brilliantly, with Robin Whittaker, Ali Allchin and Andy Stephens combining to reduce the visiting team to 56 for five. The trio were assisted by a series of superb catches behind the wicket by Dominic Whittaker, Jalal Ahmed and Paul Green.
The Old Boys dug in but, at 137 for eight with little more than ten overs remaining, remained in a parlous position.
However, Phil Hayman belied his batting position of number eight with a composed 72 not out. Tail-enders Eva (21) and Lee (13 not out) offered him gallant assistance on a wicket of uneven bounce and, as Sports ran out of steam, the Old Boys were able to close their 45-over innings on a respectable 217 for nine.
Stephens finished with figures of 12-3-49-4, with Whittaker taking three for 68. Grant Smith and Joel Whittaker also took fine running catches.
Sports were disappointed to have let their opponents off the hook and their reply began terribly, with Jalal and Jamie Hamilton both out within 13 balls.
Green (23), Joel Whittaker (13) and Allchin (27) all made starts but, at 115 for five with 14 overs left, inspiration was required.
Smith, who had been in since the third over, and Stephens went some way to providing it with a spirited stand of 54 off 59 balls.
The fall of Smith for 56, though, was pivotal and Neil Saunders and Robin Whittaker swiftly followed.
Stephens, whose breezy knock of 45 included two sixes and four fours, departed soon after and Burnham’s fate was sealed when Dominic Whittaker was run out with two overs left.
“It was a case of so close, yet so far,” Stephens said. “Our inability to finish them off with the ball proved the difference, but full marks to their latter-order batsmen for playing so well.
“Saturday would not have mattered had we not lost at least three or four matches earlier in the season that we should have won. We twice lost to Chignal by the smallest of margins, for example, and were cruising to victory at Little Waltham when rain caused the match to be abandoned.”
Jamie Hamilton, skipper of the team, added: “We gave it our best shot and just came a bit short. We’ve had a season to be proud of, though, and should be better again next year.“
The 2nd XI signed off with a heavy nine-wicket defeat away to Rettendon, but there mitigating circumstances because Burnham were depleted and Rettendon’s team was laced with several first-teamers.
Steve Sims (33), Ed King (29) and Mike Forshaw (18) enabled Sports to reach 95 for two after 29 overs but they then crumbled to 121 all out. Rettendon reached that tally off 28 overs, with Forshaw claiming the sole wicket to fall.
Forshaw, captain of the reserves, said: “We’ve performed wonders to stay up after losing our first five fixtures and, with youngsters like Fuad Ahmed, Neil Wade, Tom Stephens and Tim Lornie emerging this year, have a lot to look forward to.”