ST OSYTH CRICKET CLUB
	After the excitement of the Cricket Festival, its been very much back to reality for St. Osyth’s cricketers with both senior sides engaged in relegation battles. The 2nd XI look to have a reasonable chance of holding on to their place in the Fourth Division of the PDQ North Essex League, but the 1st XI’s grip on its highly valued First Division status looks ever more precarious.  Boxted were beaten with some ease immediately after the Festival, but with the teams immediately above us also achieving some good results we remain stranded in next to bottom place.  Survival is certainly not impossible, but it will probably require as many as four wins from the six remaining matches (from mid August) to secure it. Whilst the senior sides have struggled, it has happily been a very different story at Colts level.  The Under 13s have unquestionably been our team of the year, and after winning eight of their nine league matches they look almost certain to be confirmed champions of Division 2 of the Castle Under 13 League. The final match at Harwich was the most dramatic of the lot, with the winning margin being a mere 2 runs.  A superb half century from James Handscombe set up a challenging total, but it still took a really spirited effort in the field, including an exemplary final over from James Billington, to keep the home team at bay. All players deserve great credit for their efforts, as does Bryan McManus in his first year coaching the side.  Special mention among the batsmen should go to the captain Nick De’ath, James Handscombe and especially James Bean, who finished with an average of over forty runs per innings, a tremendous achievement especially at this age.  Of the bowlers, Chris Pickard was leading wicket taker with Sam Hennessy topping the averages, and proving a handful for all opponents. This will be a second Colts trophy for the club in just four seasons.  A most noteworthy achievement in an age when youth cricket is ever more dominated by the big town clubs. Nick Shuttleworth Cricket at Cowley Park in September Sun. 5th. 1st. XI v. Copford 1pm. Sun. 26th 2nd XI v. Tendring 1pm.