Author: Cliff Cansdale

It is with profound sadness that we heard of the terrible news that 18-year-old Carys Hammond passed away on Easter Monday following a road traffic incident.

Carys was known to several of our member clubs.  Carys took part in our girls’ coaching schemes, which led to an email being sent to Essex requesting a trial.  Carys was first spotted playing for Horndon on the Hill juniors.  At the age of 13, Carys’ left-arm off-spin yielded three wickets for five runs in a youth indoor match against Orsett in 2011, which was the third best bowling figures in the entire competition that season.  Carys also played for Thurrock CC in the womens/girls indoor sixes in the Spring of 2013 and 2014.  More recently, Carys played for Benfleet CC.

Our hearts go out to Carys’s parents – mum June also played indoor six a side cricket with her daughter – and brother Connor, who plays for Horndon on the Hill CC.

The South Essex District Cricket Board will be hosting an open-age fixture with Surrey club Kingston Taxes at Basildon and Pitsea CC on Thursday 1st June.  The match will be 30 overs per side and will start at 3pm.

Rainham (Essex) cricket club won our senior indoor six a side cricket competition at Gateway Academy with a two-point margin over second-placed Belhus.  Rainham now meet the winners of our east competition which was played at Westcliff County High School for Boys. The play-off between our east and west winners is likely to be staged at Essex CCC in either November or December.

Over the past Winter, there has been a significant increase in the number of open-age teams entering our six a side indoor cricket league staged at the Gateway Academy.  This led to a re-formation of division two, in what turned out to be a successful move.  Division two teams can only comprise of players of ‘third eleven standard and below’, and it was clear that this move has led to greater participation.

Orsett and Thurrock won the division two title with wins over Belhus CC and Rainham CC.  It is envisaged that this division will be extended for the 2017-18 indoor season.