CRICKET: Tattingstone remain top of the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Division One table after a 68-run victory over Browns.Batting first, they made a good start to their innings with an opening partnership of 95 between Stuart Hammond and Ian Connell.

CRICKET

TATTINGSTONE remain top of the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Division One table after a 68-run victory over Browns.

Batting first, they made a good start to their innings with an opening partnership of 95 between Stuart Hammond and Ian Connell. Hammond eventually made 57 with Connell getting 62 and captain Chris Bell (42 not out) took the total above 200 despite Brendan Meagher being Browns' best bowler yet again with four for 72.

Browns never looked like getting the required target after they slumped to 37 for three. Meagher sealed a good personal performance by hitting 42 but no other Browns batsman made more than 16 and three wickets from Steve Bell and Hammond sealed the victory.

Copdock and Old Ipswichian are in second and close behind Tattingstone following a tight victory in a low-scoring, but exciting, match against Mistley. Copdock struggled to 100 for nine before a last wicket stand of 34 from captain John East and Alan Cooke, who had been promoted from the third team, gave them a respectable total.

Mistley seemed to be coasting to victory at 80 for two but suffered a drastic collapse to hand the win to Copdock with James Druitt and John East both taking three wickets.

East said: "It was another good win and we are going to keep the pressure on Tattingstone and wait for them to slip up."

Last year's champions Exning are in third after a 161-run demolition of Braintree with Peter Allen scoring 57 while Suffolk pairing Tim Catley and Matt Catley scored 93 and 54 respectively as Exning made an impressive 261 for seven. Braintree lost wickets at regular intervals and look set for a tough battle to stay in the division as they lie one off the foot of the table.

Bottom spot is filled by Bury St Edmunds II who have lost six out of seven completed games after being beaten again, this time by 77 runs, at Halstead.

Ipswich and East Suffolk are still in contention for a promotion spot in Division Two after an easy eight-wicket win at Witham. Ipswich and E.S. needed 186 to win and reached the target thanks to Nick Palmer (69no) and Mike Pitman (61no). Browns II and Ipswich and East Suffolk seconds won while Achilles lost at home to East Bergholt.

It was a busy weekend for cup action with a shock result at Chantry Park after second division Ipswich and East Suffolk knocked out Division One side Copdock in the plate competition.

Copdock had a weakened team playing but that should not take away the efforts of the Ipswich & E.S side who made 211 for 5 thanks to scores over 30 from Robert Glassford, Chris Norton, Mike Pitman and an unbeaten half century from captain David Leach. Norton and Leach were in fine form with the ball as well as they both took four wickets to secure the cup victory.

Batsman of the weekend surely has to be Tattingstone's Ian Connell as he hit 106 in the DFDS Seaways Suffolk Cup a day after scoring a half century in the Two Counties Championship.

However, this time Connell's efforts weren't enough as Tattingstone fell 30 runs short of Sudbury's 281 where Simon Halliday made 91, Pete Siegert hit 73 and Grant Rowley scored 55.

Elsewhere in the cup competitions Browns lost by four wickets to East Anglian Premier League side Mildenhall, Easton cruised to victory against Hadleigh and St Margaret's advanced into the next round after beating Woolpit.

AN unbroken fourth wicket stand of 134 saw the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Over-50s side to victory over their Norfolk seconds opponents at Lenwade.

Replying to a total of 161 for eight, the Two Counties were in trouble at 28 for three but Graham Penny and Rob Stephens joined forces to see them home in style with overs to spare.

Norfolk II Over-50s 161 for 8 dec (Wheetman 37, Lubbock 29, Blackwell 3 for 37, Southwell 3 for 48, Turley 2 for 25). Two Counties Over-50s 162 for 3 (Penny 95 n.o., Stephens 38 n.o., Loveday 2 for 34). Two Counties Over-50s won by 7 wkts.

Tomorrow the Two Counties side face Browns Seniors at Rushmere Sports Club (2pm start) as part of the home club's 50th anniversary cricket week.

The team is: Phil Cox (capt), Graham Penny (both Long Melford), Colin Philpott, John Hill, Ray Digweed (Maldon), Sylvester McKnight (Boxted), Martin Blackwell, Mike Thew (Coggeshall), George Bibby (Mistley), Barry Ball (Abberton), Benny Hill (St Margaret's). Scr: Kenny Sparkes.

On Thursday, the Over-50s take on the Suffolk Premier League at Worlington (2pm) and the team is: Phil Cox (capt), Graham Penny, Richard Kemp, John Pettifer (all Long Melford), Phil Jones (Haverhill), Clive Claireaux (Hadleigh), John Stonehouse (Eight Ash Green), Martin Blackwell, John Willes (Coggeshall), Brian Robinson (Braintree), Brian Turley (Brightlingsea). Scr: Kenny Sparkes.