Veterans Match Secretary Neil Brierley reports on the progress of the Essex Vets teams in the County Championships so far this year.

The following link provides latest table for all the county sides: http://etta.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/county_championship_tables-2011-12.pdf

5 of our 6 vets sides have commenced their campaign and round up as follows:

ESSEX 1 – Team of captain Tony West plus Clive Carthy , Mark Wicker and Lucy Wang. Played at Keighley and lost 9-1 to Kent, drew 5 all with Leics and lost 6-4 to Sussex. Lucy unbeaten but matches very tough and still have hopes of staying up with second weekend at  Ashford in February.

ESSEX 2 – Led by John Monk with Alex Abbott, Paul Cuming and Elaine Sayer , they have made a great start with wins over Durham, Cambs and Yorks  and were unlucky to lose 6-4 Notts.

ESSEX 3- Captain Paul Martindill , Phil Walker, Ray Lam , Marjorie Dawson and Sue Hickman have made a steady start beating Herefordshire  9-1, drawing 5 -5 with Worcs and losing 6-4 to Herts.

ESSEX 4- Captain Lin Attridge has picked Dave Bowles, John Poysden and Gary Baker  and they beat Bucks 7-3 and lost by the same score to Northants.

ESSEX OVER 60 FIRST TEAM – Captain Dave Bowles has picked Stuart Gibbs and Peter Radford plus Marjorie Dawson  and have made a great start in defence of their national  crown . They beat Herts 7-3,  drew 5-5 with Surrey and beat Worcs 7 -3. All to play for on 25/26 Feb at Milton Keynes.

ESSEX OVER 60 SECOND TEAM – Shirley Carroll captains this team and they play their first weekend later this month.