With 27 regular players absent, the Stanford resources were stretched to the limit on Saturday. It caused the cancellation of the 4th team game and three weak sides eventually took the field on Saturday. The 1st XI’s trip to Ongar was curtailed by rain. In the event, only 11 overs of play was possible, at the end of which Stanford stood at 42-3, having lost Mark Nuttall, Sean Barker and Nathan Shearer cheaply. However, new skipper Ross Poulton (12no), was in the process of re-building with Andrew Robinson (9no). Afterwards he said, ‘Despite the shortage of players, I always felt confident that we would post 200 plus and put Ongar under pressure. The 2nd team guys who have come in this season have always done a good job. It was a shame the rain spoiled things’.

Ongar II 178 – 4 (33.3 0vers) Stanford II 136-8 (32 overs)

Over two hours were lost to rain as Stanford’s shadow 2nd team took the field, with only two regular players on show. Ongar were invited to bat and took advantage of a sparse attack to rattle up 178-4 in just under 34 overs. Tim Stock (83) was the main contributor, with Andy Powley picking up a couple of wickets as he bowled through.

Stanford lost opener Powley early in the reply and 3 more wickets quickly followed. Skipper Dean Hitchcock (35) was then joined by Ricky Tavio (51) in a match-saving partnership of 80 for the 5th wicket. Whilst they were together, Stanford harboured thoughts of a win, but there was another 4 wicket rattle and it took the cool young head of Charlie Gleisinger (13no) to seal a draw.

Hornchurch IV 200-2 (26.1 overs) Stanford III 110ao (45.3 overs)

Stanford’s 3rd string faced the journey to league leaders Hornchurch with trepidation, a few regular senior players, a handful of young colts and a body or two that they picked up along the way! In the event this rag, tag and bobtail group made the powerful home side fight every step of the way. Dave Wadsworth (71no) and South African AJ Du Plooy (84) were in a hurry on a drizzly afternoon. They hammered 133 for the first wicket, despite some hugely committed fielding. It enabled Horns to declare after only 26 overs, with 200 on the board, leaving them a huge amount of time to bowl Stanford out.

They needed a lot of it. Stand-in skipper Adrian Page had a simple instruction for his troops – ‘don’t give your wicket away’. Leading by example, Page scored 40 in 35 overs and no-one did give their wicket away, making the home team strive for 45.3 overs in the rain to finally clinch the win. Syms (5-26) and Sullivan (3-5) did the damage for the home side.

Stanford III 0 points Hornchurch IV 20 points