CRICKET: DESPITE the club's current league position, East Bergholt skipper David Taylor is not ruling out the chance of his side gaining promotion.

DESPITE the club's current league position, East Bergholt skipper David Taylor is not ruling out the chance of his side gaining promotion.

They currently lie in sixth place, but apart from leaders Haverhill, Taylor firmly believes that the rest of the league is wide open and there will be a keen fight for the second promotion place.

Taylor, like so many of his Gandish Road colleagues, is a loyal servant to the club and over the years has resisted overtures to play elsewhere.

He also wants to take his side back into Division Three of the Hargreaves Two Counties Championship after the league restructuring plonked them into Division Four.

"We weren't relegated, but found ourselves where we are now when divisions of ten were formed two years ago and the second teams of the East Anglian Premier League sides were automatically promoted to Division Two.

"That's what really hit a lot of clubs hard as many people felt they didn't deserve to be that high, but the main thing about is that all sides will eventually find their right level.

"We feel we are a division too low at present but it is up to us to do something about it. We have a good squad of players and the availability has been pretty good this season.

"The spirit in the side is better than I have ever known it and I honestly believe that if we don't lose more than one more match, we could be in with a great chance of going up."

The plus factor for Bergholt has been the arrival of Western Australian, Dougie Frame, an opening bat who has also helped out with some coaching.

One of his success stories has been teenage opening bowler Jamie Wilsher whose action Frame has improved and the side are now reaping the results of that.

"Jamie is bowling really well and there is good support from the likes of Colin Fox, Nathan Philpot, Robert Hunter, John White and Dougie."

The return of Jon Tingey has also added to the batting strength while John Barran, John Barnett, Adam Kettle, Nigel Peartree and Taylor himself are all capable of making big scores.

Taylor, however, was frustrated that his side lost at Long Melford last weekend, as victory would have lifted them up a couple of places.

"It was annoying because I can't remember us losing to Melford before," said Taylor, who five years ago smashed 204 at the west Suffolk ground – a personal record that still stands in Division Three.

While all other clubs have reached the halfway stage of the season, Bergholt have played one game extra and have eight left, but the highly-experienced Taylor remains optimistic.

Tomorrow they are away to second placed Little Bardfield and Taylor said: "Hadleigh beat them last weekend and there's no reason why we can't do something similar. Victory there would really throw it wide open and pave the way for an exciting run-in."

Hadleigh could do Bergholt a favour by beating Wivenhoe seconds away, while in the same division, Achilles, who are fifth, should be too strong for bottom club Abberton.

In Division One, Ipswich and East Suffolk will travel across town to meet Browns at Rushmere Sports Club with the dual purpose of trying to put a spoke in the third-placed side's wheel as well as lever themselves away from the drop zone.

Martin Hackney, who took six wickets against Felixstowe last weekend retains his place in the first team, but wicketkeeper Terry Bailey and batsman David Drury find themselves in the seconds as skipper Martyn Kidd rings the changes in his squad.

Second-placed Copdock and Old Ipswichians could have a tough battle on their hands at Green Lane where Tattingstone are never an easy side to beat, while Felixstowe may fancy their chances of turning over Wivenhoe at Dellwood Avenue.

Fred Mitchell's Easton have a chance to put some daylight between themselves and third-placed Bury seconds when the two teams meet at the Victory Ground in Division Two, while in Division Three, St Margaret's could have their work cut out against Brockley.

Bottom club Stowmarket will leapfrog Tuddenham if they can win at Chilton Fields -- and a win is badly needed if they are to have any chance of avoiding relegation.