Saffron Walden under 11s were on top form beating Sawston to win the CYCA League at Friends School. In the final match of the season, with only two points separating them, Walden got the victory they needed to secure top spot. Saffron Walden won the tos

Saffron Walden under 11s were on top form beating Sawston to win the CYCA League at Friends' School.

In the final match of the season, with only two points separating them, Walden got the victory they needed to secure top spot.

Saffron Walden won the toss and batted first, scoring 277-8 in their 15 overs. Sawston bowled well, keeping the pressure on the home team, but batsmen Max Clay, Joshua Charge, Paddy Brown, captain Ed Low and Domenic Wilson all made useful scores.

In Sawston's reply, runs were equally difficult to come by, with wickets falling early and pressure from the home team's fielding.

Nick Cox proved himself behind the stumps and Matthew Williams took an excellent low catch at mid wicket and, when bowling, took two wickets himself.

Other bowlers to find success were Joshua Charge, Paddy Brown and Reece Thear, but the whole team contributed to the success with the fielding forcing four run-outs. At the end of their 15 overs, Sawston were 19 runs short of the required total giving Walden the victory and the league title.

Saffron Walden under 11s defeated Dunmow in the West Essex Cricket Board Youth

League at the Anglo-American Playing Fields.

The hosts won the toss and chose to bat first. The scoring was slow in damp conditions, with Walden putting on 68-4 in 16 overs.

The top scoring batsman was Domenic Wilson with 20 not out and he was supported by Joshua Charge and Matthew Williams.

Dunmow took to the field confidently, needing 69 to win, but Walden fielded well led by captain Joshua Charge and wicket keeper Ryan Brown.

Matthew Williams took two wickets, with Domenic Wilson and Sam Larlham taking one each. Luke Diana, Stephen Douglas and Joshua Charge bowled three economical overs, each putting additional pressure on the visitors.

Dunmow's batsmen ran out of time scoring 54 runs-4 in their 16 overs, handing the win to Saffron Walden by 14 runs.

Saffron Walden under 12s hosted top of the league and unbeaten Thriplow and Whittlesford

with both sides taking a share of the spoils.

Walden won the toss and captain Andrew Jordan decided to bat first. After the early loss of opener David Anthony, Andrew Jordan and Jamie Wright played well, until Andrew Jordan (14), was caught trying to up the run rate in the 11th over.

Jamie Wright went on to top score with 28, ably supported by James Taylor who ended Walden's innings on 11 not out.

Walden's total of 101-3 was a competitive score helped along by some wayward opposition bowling.

In their reply, Kieran Parfey, for Thriplow and Whittlesford, batted superbly, scoring 50, but had little support from his team. Walden bowled exceptionally well with James Taylor taking two early wickets.

Ben Appleby and spinner Jamie Wright both bowled economically, also taking vital wickets, and finishing on figures of 2-7 and 2-8 respectively. The match reached the final over with Thriplow and Whittlesford needing seven runs to win and Walden one wicket.

With one ball remaining, Thriplow and Whittlesford needed three to win. Robbie Heathcote played a lovely shot for two runs, but was then run out trying to go for the winning run, thereby tying the match.

Saffron Walden under 15s slipped to a 20 run defeat at home to Hockerill at the weekend.

Walden elected to field first, and the visitors' opening batsmen put on 46 runs whilst Walden's bowlers kept the others at bay, with skipper Joe Heath taking four wickets and Lewis McRandal taking two in four overs apiece.

Walden started the batting off well with opening batsman Heath scoring 22. Other good performers came from Dan Mitchell with 37 and Matt Bull with 28, but they had little support from the rest of the team, and Walden finished 20 short of the required total.

For what, for many, was the last match as Academy members before moving into adult cricket, the under 16s won an exciting match by two wickets against Belhus in the prestigious Essex Matchplay League.

Belhus batted first and began steadily against the Walden fast bowlers, Barrs and Marjoribanks. The latter then had Jefferies caught by Will Brown, after which wickets fell steadily.

Larsen came on after only two overs and, with his usual immaculate line and length, bowled eight consecutively for 19 runs and taking two wickets.

At the other end, top leg spinner Darren White, joined in and, with two further wickets, broke the back of the middle order.

Fogg, with 26, and Peters, with 43, were the only significant contributors, while several Walden bowlers shared the wickets, with Chris Hancock taking 2-15, and Alec Taylor 1-19. After 40 overs, Belhus were 143 all out, a poor score on the fine Catons Lane wicket.

Walden fielded a strong batting line-up and, in their reply, David Herd and Mark Pearson raced away at seven an over. With the score at 42, however, David was needlessly run out and Walden's problems began.

Opener Mark Pearson, who has been in such magnificent form, was out for a classy 36 and with Joe Barrs going for four runs, the Belhus attack was proving rather better than their batting and the Walden middle order crumpled alarmingly.

Harry Pickton-Turberville and Nick Oakley managed 15 and 12 respectively but, with the fall of the eighth wicket, there were still 10 runs needed to win.

Larsen and White held their nerve, however, and batted out the rest of the innings, getting the winning run with 15 overs still to spare.

Thaxted under 15s put in another impressive performance to defeat Rayne in the Bardfield League.

Thaxted bowled well and restricted Rayne to 90 all out. Edward Priest was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with figures of 4-17 off four overs.

Thaxted finished their 20 overs on 131, Luke Matthews retired on 31, Ryan Webster retired on 19 and Alex Yeldham and Max Rendell (not out) got 17 apiece.