THE wet weather at the weekend took its toll on Tillingham's scheduled matches, only the 2nd team being able to complete their game, away to Ekco Monarchs & Trojans.

John Butterwick praised his side for an excellent team performance, as solid contributions from the batsmen and wickets for five bowlers proved too much for their hosts.

Batting first, Tillingham had to negotiate a very good opening spell from Ekco's young pace bowler before they were able to impose themselves on the game.

Butterwick (27) batted through 20 overs to give his side a sound start as first Ben Church (23) and then Graham Raven, who top scored with 46, joined him in fruitful partnerships. Phil Hurst once again caught the eye with some well-timed shots in his 44 and Tim Hurst (27) and Craig Shipton (25) both added valuable runs.

At the end of their 45 overs, Tillingham's total stood at 217 for 6, a score that would prove to be more than enough.

Nic Cooch only conceded two runs an over in his allotted 12 overs, finishing with 1 for 24 and leaving the home side under pressure from the start.

Phil Hurst returned the best figures of 3 for 39 and there was a wicket apiece for Tim Hurst, Stuart Cummins and Ben Church which, together with two run outs, meant that Ekco struggled to 138 all out in 37 overs.

The eagerly awaited derby game with Burnham Sports at Vicarage Lane had to be abandoned at just over the halfway mark. Just as the visitors lost their first wicket, Tom Ford's leg stump yorker proving too good for John Barthorpe.

The heavy rain that had fallen earlier, leading to an extended break for tea, returned and put paid to any chance of completing the game. Burnham had been set a modest victory target of 181, with Tillingham losing their final wicket in their 45th over.

Burnham's accurate bowling attack restricted Tillingham's batsmen who, apart from the last wicket run-out, were all dismissed by being caught. Only Jim Chapman showed the necessary discipline - he batted to a score of 93 before mis-timing a big drive and being caught in the deep.

The big boundaries meant that run-scoring was not easy, so the game was still evenly matched, but in the end, the weather was the only winner.

On Friday, Tillingham's Under-13s played their first game and were encouraged by a fine performance that saw them lose out narrowly to South Woodham Ferrers.

In a 20-overs-a-side game, Tillingham were dismissed in the final over for 114, with Alex Lightfoot top scoring with 22 and Ben Mumford making a hard-hit 18.

In Woodham's reply, Terry Stiffell was prominent, with three wickets as well as taking a couple of catches and hitting the stumps for a run-out.

Robert Dowzall took two wickets and all the bowlers did well, as the game went to the last over before Woodham hit the winning runs, with six wickets down.