It's been a good weekend for Haverhill's cricket and football teams. Save for their disasterous defeat against Hadleigh in their sixth game of the season - getting bowled out for 117 as the visitors eased to 123-1 mid May - they have been a strong and consistant side all season. Last Saturday's victory at Elsmstead Grasshoppers was their 11th successive win, and confirmed the side's promotion with two games remaining.
No doubt captain Adam Dellar will be still aiming to finish the division as champions though, and with just two games remaining it looks set to go down to the last day. Ipswich have been pushing hard, but Haverhill have showed their superiority by beating their title rivals convincingly both home and away this season. The team have proved they are the best in their division and lead the table comfortably, a testament to the season they have had.
Dellar has often spoken about the importance of a settled side, something Haverhill have largely enjoyed this season. They have not emplyed superstar names like some of their rivals - Chris Silverwood has boosted the team's chances but has not played a part in every game and they have certainly not struggled in his absence. The team has been relaxed, and able to play the game that suits them, winning 14 of their 15 games played (with five cancellations) and enjoying a perfect record when bowling first.
The team was comfortably defeated when they played the Lashings World XI, but against opposition of this quality it was nothing to be ashamed of. Their focus has been on winning the league - something they were unfortunate to let slip last season - and they have certainly achieved that.
The second XI also enjoyed their weekend as they closed in on the promotion places. Bury St Edmunds III saw their lead diminish as league leaders Brightlingsea II. The visitors, who now look almost certain to win the title, managed 161-9 as the hosts managed only 103 in reply. Haverhill II now have three games to close the slender gap between themselves in third and Bury above them to climb the ladder to division five.
Rovers' fortunes were mixed as they took a point from Norwich United. While a point was a good result against a team that had won three of their opening four games, only losing a home fixture to pre-season favourites Leiston, it can never be truly accepted as an achievement when the team let slip a lead to draw, as a point gained becomes two lost. Usually Rovers suffer because they are not clinical enough in scoring, to see them drop points due to their defence is different.
Tomorrow they host Ely City, who themselves have enjoyed four wins from their opening five games, losing only at Wisbech. Betts said to me before these two fixtures that his primary aim was to make Rovers 'difficult to beat' and 'hard to play against', and that the aim would be three points from the two games. A result against fifth placed Ely at New Croft is certainly achieveable and would get some much need points for Rovers to get their season back on track and compete at the upper end of the table as they push for a top ten finish.
As the football season continues and the cricket season draws to a close, it's worth remembering that the rugby and hockey seasons get underway next month. Haverhill Rugby Club will have to get used to life in Eastern Counties Division One quickly as Gavin Hope captains the side on their trip to Southwald for their opening game on September 11. Tina Bunch will lead the hockey club in their opening game against Norwich City. The side avoided relegation in their final game last season, and league changes sees them now competing in the EML Division Two North East, and will no doubt be hoping for a more successful campaign this time around.
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