Thurrock Sport

Read philosophical on eve of Orsett's clash with Hadleigh & Thundersley

6:10am Friday 3rd September 2010

CRICKET: ORSETT captain Wayne Read heads into his side’s final match with Hadleigh & Thundersley in a philosophical mood.

Read’s team trail second-placed South Woodford by 19 points in the fight for promotion from Division One of the Essex Cricket League.

Woodford face leaders Ardleigh Green, who have a 19-point advantage over their visitors, and everything will come down to the amount of points the teams pick up.

“We are 19 points behind and it's in the hands of the gods,” said Read.

“We cannot be caught in third but we need to beat Hadleigh and for Ardleigh Green to do us a favour at South Woodford.

“We are going to go out and enjoy the game. There is no pressure and if it happens, it happens.

“If Ardleigh Green and South Woodford get promoted then good luck to them, perhaps it will be our turn next year.”

Read said his team had played hard all season and had enjoyed a good year which has seen them in contention for promotion for most of the campaign.

But he admitted the match against South Woodford which was abandoned due to rain on August 14 was probably the straw that broke the camel’s back.

“If we had played them and beaten them then we would have been right in there,” Read added. “But the wicket was under water, so there was no way we could have played the game.”

Hosts Hadleigh & Thundersley go into tomorrow’s match happy that the points gained in last week’s nine-wicket defeat to South Woodford ensured they will be playing Division One cricket again next summer.

But captain Adam Fleming was less that satisfied with his team’s performance, and will be looking for an improvement against Orsett.

“We are certainly more capable cricketers than we showed on Saturday,” said Fleming.

“The important thing is that we are mathematically safe now, which was always the main aim, but it would be nice to get a win against Orsett.”

The season cannot come to an end quick enough for Westcliff on Sea skipper Tim Wade.

Last Saturday’s seven-wicket defeat to Hornchurch confirmed the Chalkwell Park team’s relegation to Division Two.

Westcliff host a Chingford side looking to avoid joining their hosts in the drop. Chingford are currently eight points ahead of Hutton, who are occupying the other relegation spot, ahead of their trip to Hornchurch.

“We are going to go out against Chingford tomorrow and try to enjoy ourselves,” said Wade. “We want to put this season behind us and kick on for next year.”

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