Saffron Walden finished their Shepherd Neame League season on a high with a victory at Wickford on Saturday. The 63-run defeat of the bottom club sees them finish the season in third place behind champions Ardleigh Green and runners-up Wanstead. I m real

Saffron Walden finished their Shepherd Neame League season on a high with a victory at Wickford on Saturday.

The 63-run defeat of the bottom club sees them finish the season in third place behind champions Ardleigh Green and runners-up Wanstead.

"I'm really pleased with the victory and it was a good way to end the season with three wins," said captain Joe Holland.

"Considering we were 20 points clear eight weeks ago though, third place is a bit disappointing. If somebody had said third at the start of the season, however, I'd have taken it.

"We have struggled to field the same side consistently and rarely had the same team out two weeks running, so third place isn't a bad season."

Walden won the toss on Saturday and elected to bat first, but this did not look like a wise decision as Ryan Sparrow

(4), Ray Mordini (2) and Giles Ecclestone (1) were all out fairly cheaply.

However, Adrian Grinoneau (25), came to the crease and steadied the ship. Josh Staines was the star of the innings, putting on 74 runs and he was well supported by Joe Holland (29), Tom Price (12) and Simon Parmenter (10), as Walden finished their innings on 190 all out in 41.1 overs.

In reply, Wickford lost opener P Corps lbw for a duck, off Smith's bowling.

M Bate (14) and D Batch (52), came together and took the hosts' score forward.

C Desai (28), A Mullins (11) and I Batch (11), were the only other batsman to add double figures however, as Wickford

were skittled out for 127 runs in 40.5 overs.

Taking the wickets for Walden were Smith (10-6-14-1), Ecclestone (5-1-17-1),

Parmenter (10.5-1-34-5) and Atherton (10-4-31-2).

Walden go to Beckenham CC for the finals day of the South East England Twenty20 competition this weekend.

They will represent Essex after winning the county competition and picking up £1500 in the process.

Walden will face Finchley in the semi-final with £2500 in prize money for the winners and £5000 for the winners of the final.

"I can't play unfortunately, but it should be a great day for the club," said Holland.

"It's massive financially and if we can win it will take a huge weight off the club's shoulders.

"Cricket clubs don't have much money and that will make a big difference and help us pay the bills.

"We are going there to win it and are confident we can do that.