FRINTON'S cricketers had another free weekend in the Read Brothers Ltd East Anglian Premier League.

However, the reason for Saturday's call-off was very different to the previous week's washout at Great Witchingham.

Mike Comber's table-toppers had been due to entertain Vauxhall Mallards but their opposition were unable to raise a side and forfeited the match, handing the Ashlyns Road side 25 points.

Furthermore, Mallards have signalled their plans to quit the league at the end of the season.

They have been struggling in terms of numbers and a combination of holidays and injuries meant they were unable to fulfil Saturday's fixture.

It is a sorry state of affairs at a club that were once powerhouses of the Premier League.

They were the inaugural winners of the competition in 1999.

A statement from the Premier League read: "The committee wanted to give the club every opportunity to try and secure a future.

"However, it is with regret that the club have advised the league that all avenues have now been exhausted.

"The inaugural winners of the league will therefore withdraw and disband at the end of the season."

Although they reluctantly conceded their match at Frinton, Mallards have assured the league they will be able to fulfil the remainder of their fixtures in the 2019 season.

Frinton's 25-point haul means they are still top of the table - 19 points clear of second-placed Swardeston, who beat Bury St Edmunds by 61 runs.

Comber's men are away to Burwell and Exning on Saturday.