SPRINGFIELD are the new Premier Division champions after an exciting one wicket win over second placed High Roding on Saturday.
It's the first time Springfield have won the coveted title since 2001 and a very pleased skipper Jimmy Symonds said: "I'm delighted for the players and the whole club.
"We've practically used only the same 13 players during the season so we've had continuity in the side which has helped and I think the tremendous team spirit too has played a major part," he explained. "The dedication of the players has also been a major factor because they turn up for practice on Friday evening and Saturday mornings and it's really helped us to win the title."
Springfield have always had a strong colts section and most of the players have come through the ranks like Jimmy himself.
"I started as a 16 year-old at the club and am now 31 and still enjoying every minute," he continued. "I've been skipper for six seasons and I've achieved my aiming of winning the championship."
Home side High Roding batted first and scored 235-3 from their 45 overs with captain Mel Hussain top scoring with 131 not out.
Springfield started well enough but dramatically slid to 78-5 at one stage.
But Symonds came in to play a skipper's innings and led his side's recovery with 58 and Lee Brooks made 43 not out, with Simon Dance making 18 not out.
It was a close run game with Springfield winning by one wicket reaching 239-9.
Mark Gallup bowled well to take 4-41 for High Roding who finish in second place in the table.
Down at the other end in the relegation match at Little Baddow the visitors, Chignal, batted first.
Needing to gain maximum points from the match to stand a chance of avoiding relegation, Little Baddow knew their fate was set when Chignal reached 228- 9 giving them sufficient points regardless of the result.
Fazal Rahman scored 65 for Chignal and Shivachara Shetty took 3-41 for Little Baddow.
In reply the home side started well enough in the chase with Tom Golding scoring 75 and Rob Harris 38, but it was left for skipper Dave Lucy to lead Little Baddow to a final win in the Premier Division with 33 not out, and Baddow reaching 229-8.
Bowling for Chignal, Nuwan Ramanayke took 2-25 and Tom Bird 2-54 off nine overs, leaving Little Baddow to be relegated alongside Great Totham.
Bentley hosted Hatfield Peverel who batted first in this rather short match. Peverel were all out for 51 with Matt Coleman taking 5-10 with only Alan Donovan scoring 25 not out.
In reply Bentley knocked them off easily only losing one wicket.
Skipper Chris Pether scored the winning runs making 13 not out in the total of 53-1.
Relegated Great Totham's final match was against Aythorpe Roding and the home side batted first. Totham scored 198 all out with Howard Hardy-King scoring 78 and Andy Clarke taking 4-27 for Aythorpe.
In reply Aythorpe reached the total of 199-4 wickets to win the match comfortably, with Blackman making 65 and sixteen-year-old Allington scoring 73.
Great Baddow were visited by Old Chelmsfordians. The home side batted first and scored 219-6, with OCs all out for 120.
So, Great Baddow ended their season on a high and successfully stayed in the division.
