Canvey Island captain Laurence Shearcroft is not thinking about doing rivals Rayleigh a favour this weekend.

Should Canvey beat Rettendon, Rayleigh’s place in the Premier Division of the T-Rippon Mid-Essex League would be assured for another season.

Shearcroft’s side were awarded the points on Saturday after opponents Brookweald failed to raise a team.

But Shearcroft still wants the sixth-placed side to enjoy a positive end to the season, with victory enough to ensure a best ever league finish for the club.

“We all very much want to beat Rettendon on Saturday and that is because we want to secure a best ever league finish, that is all,” said Shearcroft.

“We finished seventh in our first season, which was a good result for us. We have won more games this year, which is a great achievement in itself, but we want to keep improving.

“From a sporting point of view, it would be good to see either Rayleigh or Rettendon go down as they have been big rivals of ours over the years.”

Canvey Island’s second team are resigned to another year in Division Eight after they fell to a comprehensive defeat against East Hanningfield & Great Burstead.

The side directly below them in the standings were seven wicket winners.

Cameron Rising scored 48 and Mark Acraman hit 39 as Canvey racked up 184. But their opponents made light work of the total - Neil Casson’s 1-27 the best bowling figures on show.

And Shearcroft is excited at the prospects of the second team next season.

“They can be proud of their performances as they played well this year and showed signs of vast improvement,” said the first team captain. “If they can have another strong season they will be in first team reckoning.”