We enter the last half mile!

With only four weeks of the regular season to go I think realistically the EAPL title race is down to just two sides; the Rams and Copdock. Both were in similar positions last year. SBCC hold a thirty-five-point cushion which is handy but not yet decisive; particularly as you can get big points swings in pink ball games. Arguably they each face their most difficult remaining ties in the next fortnight; but they both also have to meet sides in around the relegation play off dog fight before the season concludes.

Sawston visit The Common to meet the only side that has finished above them in the previous five years that they have been a part of the EAPL. Although, their hosts, Swardeston are a lowly seventh the Rams recognise that there is never an easy game against their multi-title winning rivals. Whilst they haven’t quite hit the heights of previous campaigns their side still contains a lot of the personnel that have been instrumental in their past successes. On their day with the likes of Jordan Taylor, Alfie Cooper, Peter Lambert, and Saranga Rajaguru they remain a real danger to any side in the league, particularly with the bat. Cooper with a season’s best of one hundred and fifty-three not out is fourth in the leading run scorers’ ladder, he is only fifty runs behind Ben Claydon (898 runs). The explosive Rajaguru sits eleventh in the contest with just over six hundred runs.  The Sri Lankan sits third in the contest to be the leading wicket taker with forty-two victims and is just five behind the leader Brett Stolworthy. The red ball game was a rain restricted draw with the Rams handily placed before declaring on two hundred and seventy-two for five off fifty-eight overs.  The Rams make just one change this week with Oli Borley replacing Henry Cotton for the trip into Norfolk. Hopefully everyone has made it safely back from Marbella where a large contingent was on Callum Guest’s stag trip.

Copdock face the unpredictable but dangerous Great Witchingham at home. A resurgent and third placed Sudbury meet Bury. Fourth placed Witham travel to Frinton, who will want to put last week’s disaster behind them. At Mildenhall both the hosts and Horsford will be hoping for a win to reverse recent fortunes. At Downham the hosts will want another win that will help them cement a promising start to life in the EAPL; but AB Wanderers will be desperate to replicate last week’s win and their T20 form to continue to close the gap at the bottom of the table. Another win for ABW will really put the cat amongst the pigeons if Mildenhall, Frinton and Bury only secure a handful of points.

The Rams second team have a very different challenge this week after picking up a trio of wins against sides in and around them at the bottom of the table. They make one change with Henry Cotton returning to replace Oli Borley. Cambridgeshire’s under-18 skipper Alex James faces a late fitness test; hopefully not the result of over celebration of his excellent exam results. They face a Burwell and Exning side who are in contention with Walden and Ramsey for the Onyx Premier One title.  The side from the Cambridgeshire-Suffolk border are skippered by the leagues’ leading run-scorer Paul Summerskill. He will be backed up by all-rounders Nic Huckle and overseas Tom Mangelsen. Cambridgeshire U-18 Dylan Hardy will also bee keen to follow up his ton and sixty-five in this week’s Under-18 match at Spicers.  Sawston’s Darcy Murphy closed the gap at the top of the wicket takers contest with his four wickets last Saturday and he is now joint second just three behind Ramsey’s Sandun Madushanka. The Rams had one of their days with the bat to forget when they lost by seven wickets at Exning in May.  The Rams may prefer to focus on last September’s game where a win maintained their Premier One status.  At the top of the table Walden  and Ramsey have tricky ties; with Walden travelling to Wisbech and Ramsey entertaining Foxton.  The Rams would like the top two to win so that they can keep the pressure on the sides immediately above themselves.

The third team are probably glad after a disappointing end to their campaign that Saturday is their final fixture of the season. Hopefully they will want to finish on a high and play for fun; and in particular put on a performance that rewards their skipper, Jake Ellis, for his faith in them, his patience with them and his hardwork throughout the year! They seek revenge over an Aspenden, Standon and Puckeridge side that perhaps started their slide. A win will also guarantee them third spot.