DIVISION ONE

HADLEIGH & Thundersley made sure of a third place finish with a seven-wicket win at Hutton on the final day of the Division One season.

The finishing position was Hadleigh’s highest since they returned to this level in 2010.

And bowler Dave Williams was happy to end the campaign in style.

“Saturday’s game was a bit of a strange one really but it was nice to get the win,” said Williams.

“They just went for their shots from ball one and we ended up bowling them out inside 30 overs.

“We then managed to finish the game by 4 o’clock, losing just three wickets.”

That secured third place for Hadleigh as they finished one place and 42 points behind the automatic promotion places.

And the progress made throughout the season was a bonus for Williams.

“It’s been a pleasing season and we have improved as team so much,” said Williams.

“We slipped up on a couple of occasions that we really shouldn’t have done and that’s why we might be a bit disappointed we didn’t finish in the top two.

“We’ll certainly be looking to go one better next year.”

Hutton made just 121 in their innings, with Richard Revell and Tim Lowes both taking four wickets.

Michael Lewis then hit 43 not out to see Hadleigh home for the loss of just three wickets.

Southend & EMT also triumphed, beating Woodford Wells by four wickets to ensure a fifth place finish.

Batting first, Woodford Wells made 219-9 with Michael Gridley the pick of Southend’s bowlers taking 6-75.

But Southend then made it home for the loss of six wickets with Dale Hackney top-scoring with 58.

Oliver Wagstaff added 37 and Joe Robbins 33 not out to see Southend triumph.

And already relegated Wickford were also celebrating after beating Ardleigh Green by 36 runs.

Wickford batted first and scored 230-7, thanks to 68 from Liam Rouse and 48 from Bobby Carey.

In reply, bottom-of-the-table Ardleigh Green were bowled out for 195 with Chirag Desai picking up 6-61.

And that pleased Wickford’s skipper Andy Baker.

“It was nice to finish on a win even though result meant nothing,” said Baker. “It gave us a chance to give a few different people a chance to bat and a bowl.

“We took the opportunity to bring in young spinner Reece Pinchback, who bowled really well and picked up three good wickets.

“Hopefully he will play more next season and we will be able to build a team around some of the younger lads in Division Two.”

But Baker remains frustrated to be playing at that level again next year.

“Our season as a whole was very disappointing,” said Baker. “We didn’t score enough runs as a team and although we created the chances to take wickets, we didn’t always take them and it proved costly in the end.

“I think there were three or four occasions we had the opposition nine wickets down and didn’t take the chances to win the game.

“That probably cost us 60 points which would’ve seen us in the top half.

“But unfortunately cricket is about small margins and this year we just weren’t clinical enough.”