Saffron Walden under 13s kept up their unbeaten start to the season with a victory at Rayleigh. Rayleigh opened the innings and their openers scored steadily before being out for 25 and 24. Most of the other batsmen made small contributions and, after 24

Saffron Walden under 13s kept up their unbeaten start to the season with a victory at Rayleigh.

Rayleigh opened the innings and their openers scored steadily before being out for 25 and 24. Most of the other batsmen made small contributions and, after 24 overs, they had made the reasonable score of 120.

Jack Hawkins took one wicket for five runs, and Tom Wass two wickets for 12 runs, and were the best of the Walden bowlers.

Walden opened confidently in their reply, and there was some sterling batting from Peter Herd and Jack Hawkins, both of whom retired on 26.

With the end in sight, Tim Wade held his nerve with 19 not out, and Steve Wiseman hit the winning run in the 22nd over for Walden to win by three wickets with two overs to spare.

- At Catons Lane last Thursday, 14 girls and 30 boys took part in Chance to Shine cricket activities.

Everyone had a great time and received their C2S t-shirts.

Chance to Shine is a national programme, launched in 2005, with the aim of reviving cricket in state schools. This is done through coaching camps and, in 2007 alone, more than 90,000 children in 1200 schools through 200 clubs will be involved.

Dunmow under 11s secured a narrow five-run victory over Harlow Town.

Batting first Angus Mclaren (7) and Ieuan Bush (9), put on 26 for the first wicket and some attacking batting from George Webster and Sam Bullock saw Dunmow reach 63-7.

In reply Harlow Town started well, but were pegged back with a fine display of tight bowling by Will Easton (2-8). They needed 14 from the final over, but Dunmow fielded well to take the victory by five runs.

Thaxted Colts under 15s came out on top in their battle with Rayne in the Bardfield League.

Thaxted captain Ryan Webster won the toss and put Rayne into bat. Thaxted claimed a few early wickets due to the accurate bowling of the Yeldham brothers.

C Hutton, Rayne's opening batsman, retired on 50 and the innings continued with Rayne finishing on 112-5 after their 20 overs.

Thaxted lost an early wicket, but a partnership of 74 between Alex Yeldham and Luke Matthews, who retired on 51, steadied the game.

Jacob Noble retired on 19, and Thaxted finished their 20 overs on 133 for 4.

Great Notley under 13s defeated Coggeshall by four wickets on Sunday at Harefield.

Great Notley gained the early initiative, with Ben Geall removing C Girling (0), caught by Dan Baldock. Then, in the next over, Rob Troste bowled Scotting (0).

An excellent partnership of 55 between Bragg and Girling threatened to take the game away from Great Notley, before Adam Cowan found the stumps of Bragg (33).

Josh Newman entered the bowling attack and was on top form as he had Enright (1) caught, defeated Durkin (0), had J Girling (14) caught by Dan Galley and then bowled Wiles (0). A late surge from Price (19 no) improved the position for the hosts and when Brown (2) had been run out from the final ball of the innings, Coggeshall had reached 87-8.

Great Notley's reply got off to a solid start, with openers Galley (7) and Cromie (16) moving the score onto 25 after five overs. Cromie (16), Morris (19) chipped in to help Notley reach 86-6 by the end of the 19th over.

Geall (30 no) then found the boundary to give Notley the win as they finished on 90-6 in 19.2 overs.