CRICKET: It was quite a day for Easton as they sent out teams to two cup finals.The 1st XI came unstuck at Halstead against Coggeshall in the Senior Plate final in the Two Counties Championship, but the 2nd XI recorded a fine 38-run win over Brantham in the Medite Suffolk Alliance Cup final on their home ground.

CRICKET

IT WAS quite a day for Easton as they sent out teams to two cup finals.

The 1st XI came unstuck at Halstead against Coggeshall in the Senior Plate final in the Two Counties Championship, but the 2nd XI recorded a fine 38-run win over Brantham in the Medite Suffolk Alliance Cup final on their home ground.

Easton made a good start, with Dave McMillan (50), Wayne Mitchell (38), Richard Fernley (34) and Dave Marriott (27) all going well, but their final total of 194 for seven was not as many as had seemed likely. Gary Forster, with four for 36, helped to slow their progress.

Brantham were always in with a chance while Adrian Stockton was at the crease, but he fell to a brilliant catch by Colin Johnson for 58 in what proved to be the turning point. Johnson then clean-bowled two batsmen on his way to claiming three for 33 from his eight overs as Brantham were held at 156 for nine.

Coddenham & Grundisburgh won twice in style over the weekend to storm clear at the top of Section A as previous leaders Yoxford lost at Sudbourne Hall. Tom Palmer and Adie Green did most of the work for Coddenham. At Bawdsey on Saturday Green (five for four in 13 overs) and Palmer (five for 27) combined to skittle the home side for 49, setting up a nine-wicket win.

Next day Green (four for 10 in 11 overs) and Palmer (three for 36) again took all the wickets as eight-man Caribbeans were bowled out for 90. This time it took 32 from Green and an unbeaten 34 from Craig Bloomfield to set up a six-wicket success.

Meanwhile Yoxford could only muster 10 men to go to Sudbourne and they were bowled out for 125. Tom Jenkin (53 not out) and Micky Peck (42) set up an eight-wicket win for the Hall.

Yoxford still have four games to play, the last away to Coddenham, and they could keep the title-chase alive if they win them all.

Caribbeans are doomed to finish bottom, but they produced an amazing performance against Melton St Audry's at Woodbridge School. Starting with just seven men, two more arrived but they could not prevent St Audry's posting 258 for eight (Malcolm Grubb 101, Mick Utting 68).

Caribbeans were determined to go down fighting and came up with a terrific batting display. Anthony Gibson (79), Lenny Austin (30) and Dave Claxton (55) kept them ahead of the required rate, before Jez Brotherton (four for 54) and Conrad Wright (three for 76) pegged them back.

By the end of the innings it was very dark, but teenager Ryan Harewood came in as last man to accompany Devon Ebanks (23 not out). Their partnership took Caribbeans to 253 with one over to go. Harewood scored two twos as the fielding side struggled to pick up the ball, but from the next delivery the ball was skied and Richard Grubb completed a match-winning catch.

Next day St Audry's were back at Woodbridge School, this time for the Section B match against Woodbridge II. League form was overturned as Asad Mir (71), Matt Parker (40) and Danny Flatt (35) led Woodbridge to an impressive 226 for six. Adrian Smith batted through the innings for 61 not out in reply, but the league leaders ended on 124 for seven, Bruce Tompkins taking three for 15 in his 12 overs.

Waldringfield beat Easton III by 101 runs in Section C as Alan Barnes (48) and Terry Baker (39) set up a total of 191 for seven, before Les Webster (four for 18) and Donald Sharpe (three for 27) combined to dismiss the visitors for 90.

Nomads were bowled out for 80 by Yoxford II. The home side won by four wickets to close the gap in the chase for second place behind leaders Needham Market.

Dan Philpot scored 34 and took six for 26 as Wortham II beat AXA/DBSL II in Section D, while Jack Shawler (five for 30) and Steve Bloxham (51) led the way as Felixstowe Corinthians II won by five wickets at Halesworth.

Castle made sure of the Section E title with a six-wicket win away to Diss Mere.

Elveden secured the Intermediate Division title in the Suffolk Premier League in style with an eight-wicket hammering of Kesgrave.

None of the visiting batsmen reached double figures as the Elveden bowlers got to work. They struggled for 42.4 overs before being dismised for just 52, with Steve Flack (three for 16), Jon Trett (three for four) and Simon Flack (two for eight) doing most of the damage.

In the Premier Division Woodbridge just about secured second place behind champions Thurston with a 68-run win over Stowupland.

Woodbridge lost three quick wickets before Ed Parker (75) and Ian Akers (53) led a recovery. Then useful late runs from John Percival (45 not out), Andy Oswald (23) and Dave Driver (20) hoisted the total to 260 for eight.