Saffron Walden under 10s came out victors in the top-of-the-table clash against High Roding, to win the West Essex under 10s league. In their inaugural season in this league, Walden remained unbeaten and in the final match on the hottest day of the year,

Saffron Walden under 10s came out victors in the top-of-the-table clash against High Roding, to win the West Essex under 10s league.

In their inaugural season in this league, Walden remained unbeaten and in the final match on the hottest day of the year, Walden won the toss and decided to bat.

Luke Barkes and Charlie Duke opened the batting and scored 27 in their four overs, with Luke joint top scoring for Walden with 15 runs. Ally Hancock and Coby Game batted second and put together a partnership of 17 runs with Coby also scoring 15.

Bertie Hughes and Danny Murphy-Moore struggled against some accurate slow bowling to put on 12 runs. The final pair, Jonathan Brace and Will Aitken, put on another 17 runs to give Walden a respectable total of 273.

Walden got off to a good start in the field and Bertie Hughes opened the bowling with two consecutive maidens. Tight bowling by Barkes, Game and Brace, and some excellent fielding resulting in two run-outs, turned the screw and put the High Roding batters under pressure.

Despite a last four-over onslaught, which scored 36 runs, the High Roding efforts were in vain, Walden ending worthy winners by 20 runs.

Saffron Walden under 11s came out on top in the Babraham Kwik Cricket Tournament at the weekend, winning all three of their matches.

In their first match they beat Linton, followed by victories over Babraham and finally Hardwick.

For Walden, Luke Barkes and Charlie Duke opened the batting, followed by Daniel Murphy-Moore and Daniel Page. Alex Hancock and James Patterson were the middle order, then Will Aitken and Spencer Hill completed the batting line-up.

Saffron Walden's under 17 Transition League side slipped to its first defeat of the season away to Longstanton Grasshoppers.

Put into bat by Longstanton, Walden started well with debutant Alan Williams scoring a brisk 50 before having to retire in accordance with league rules.

Other top/middle order batsmen Sam Shepherd (23), Peter Hill (18) and Alex Taylor (17), made useful contributions, but the innings lost momentum towards the end and Walden finished on 168.

Longstanton set about their target with powerful hitting and were cruising to victory with over 100 posted for the loss of just two wickets. However, another younger debutant, 11-year-old Matthew Williams, son of Alan, bowled a fine one wicket for 10 runs spell in just four overs to start the Walden fight-back, which was followed by aggressive bowling from Alex Taylor (3-26) and Tom Mockford (2-46).

However, Longstanton held their nerve and reached their target with plenty of overs to spare, but with only two wickets left.

Thaxted under 15s ended the season on a high with a victory over Newport in the Bardfield League.

Newport won the toss and put Thaxted into bat. An opening partnership of 47 between Ryan Webster and Alex Yeldham gave Thaxted a good start, followed by Luke Matthews (44 no) and Andy Yeldham (8 no), Thaxted finishing on 119-2 after 20 overs.

Newport got off to a shaky start in reply losing quick wickets in the first and third over.

Jake Rendell took three catches and tight bowling by Luke Matthews (3-17 off four overs), saw Newport end their innings on 97-7, giving Thaxted the win.