Nobody should be bowled over by team's promotion

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.

Mixed start for Rovers

After a flying start to christen New Croft with a late win over Walsham-le-Willows, Haverhill Rovers promptly stalled. Though that maybe a rather harsh judgement as they lost at home to a side that finished fifth last season in the Ridgeons Premier League. Stanway Rovers were always going to provide a sterner test than Walsham, and Haverhill are always going to struggle to win games as long as they lack a clinical striker. Still, the team only lost 2-0 so were not turned over or beaten easily, and a solid defence and good midfield that creates chances will always provide them with a good base to build from.

They did enjoy better fortune in the FA Cup though, defeating rivals Hadleigh United 2-1 to progress past the extra preliminary round of the competition, allowing fans to maintain their dreams of an eventual third round trip to Old Trafford or Anfield. They can now look forward to a long trip to Wellingborough to take on UCL Premier Division side Wellingborough Town for a place in the first round qualifying. Manager Peter Betts told me he has already made the trip to the town, near Northampton, to see how the team play and get some ideas before their encounter on August 28.

He described the club's FA Cup vicotry as 'the most important fixture to date' - due to their financial constraints any success brings much needed revenue. A good run could even see an increase in fortunes in the squad, that Betts does exceptionally well to run sucessfully on a shoestring budget (which is why I nominated him for the St Edmundsbury Sports Personality of the Year award). The team have just lost teenager Anthony Fernandez to Mildenhall, and a financial boost, coupled with Betts' fine management, could really see them become a force.

He admitted his side 'don’t know much about Wellingborough', but added that 'sometimes that can be an advantage'. Their opponants had no problem in reaching the next round as they swept past Kirkley and Pakefield 3-0, who themselves finished fourth in the league last year,.

Betts also said he hopes large crowds will continue to turn up at New Croft to support the team, saying: “So far attendance has been excellent and the players have been delighted with the support and performed, so hopefully people will keep coming as they don’t realise how much of a boost it is for the team.”

However, before their next Cup game they face a trip to Norwich United on Saturday before entertaining Wisbech Town the following Tuesday. Both teams are in fine form and will provide a stern test of Rovers' credentials if they are to successfully establish themselves as a top ten Ridgeons Premier League side.

Betts described the two fixtures as 'our toughest period', and said he hopes to take three points from the games. Neither will be easy, and though Rovers are hardly in fine form they have hardly begun the season either. They will be boosted by the return of Shaun Banham, but Betts said he expects him to play for the reserves and hopefully make the squad for the Wisbech game. However, if Rovers are to challenge in the top half of the league this season then these are the aims they must be setting.

Last season proved that on their day the team can beat anyone, and save for two thrashings by CRC were never seriously outplayed. Now they must focus on producing that form consistantly, because if they can they could become a real force in their division. They did drop plenty of points through poor finishing and a lack of a precise striker, as wins became draws and draws became defeats. Betts admitted they spurned numerous early chances against Stanway and that ended in defeat, and this must be something they look to put right this season. Hopefully the team can continue to up their game and pleasantly surprise fans with a string of strong results to provide them with a good start to the season.

(To see the full interview with manager Peter Betts see this week's Haverhill Echo, out tomorrow, August 19)