HARLOW Town suffered a blow to their promotion hopes as they were comprehensively beaten by neighbours Harlow, who themselves ascended to the top of the league. 

Home skipper Ronnie Yates won the toss and chose to field first, hoping to use the conditions and weather forecasts to his advantage. Like the game against Stanford le Hope, Town took an early wicket but couldn’t capitalise and exert any real pressure on the visiting batters. Chris Whitworth compiled a mammoth 115 before he was eventually out LBW thanks to the pick of the Town bowlers Tom Wilcox (3-57 off 14 overs). As weather conditions were mixed between rain and sunshine and probably considering Town’s recent batting displays visiting skipper Tom Garner declared for 229-4 meaning Town need 230 to win from 49 overs.

As the reply started Town never really got out of the blocks and after losing opener Ali to a dubious caught behind the visiting bowlers ripped through the hapless home batters picking up regular wickets with some good bowling that Town had no real reply to. On the day of receiving his first XI cap Darryl Pettengell top scored for Harlow Town with a quick fire 16, however that was as good as it got for the home side as they stuttered to 71 all out. 

They will hope to pick up this week when they visit Barking and they really need to as the league is so tight with most people observing that the race for promotion is between the top 7 teams.

It was frustration for Town 2^nd XI who travelled to play against West Essex, however when the rain came down in East London, the covers either didn’t fit across the pitch or where put on incorrectly meaning that the game was abandoned after 14 overs.

A much changed 3^rd XI lost at home to Cloghams. Animesh Sourabh scored 49 for the home side and also picked up a wicket, but it was to be in vain as Cloghams chased the total for the loss of 2 wickets. Although it was a hard day for Town it was good to see youngsters playing mens cricket and having a positive impact on the game.