JAKE Wakelin felt Witham Cricket Club’s emphatic derby day victory against Braintree was about more than just putting one over his team’s local rivals.

Witham continued the dominance they enjoyed over Braintree last year by easing to a 151-run win at the Park in the first of this season’s derby encounters in Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship division one.

It was an important win not only because it was against their local rivals, but also as it demonstrated that Witham would be looking to challenge at the top end of division one this year.

Braintree had beaten last year’s top-flight runners-up Wivenhoe in their first game of the season, while Witham had lost at Woolpit and Wakelin felt this latest result sent out a message to the rest of division one.

He said: “Winning this game was not just about beating our local rivals.

“That was important, but it says to the rest of the league that we are here and we are ready to push again.

“Our team may look a bit different this year, with some younger players moving up, but the lads have taken on the responsibility and are delivering.

“It was no disgrace to lose against Woolpit as they have just come down from the Premier League and they won again last weekend so they are showing they will be up there, but this shows we will as well.”

There was little doubt about the end result as, having lost the toss and been put in to bat, Witham posted 259 for eight, with Michael Glynn and James Suett making half-centuries.

They then strangled Braintree’s response early on as Matt McKendry and Shaun Bragg found their rhythm as the hosts were reduced to 32 for four before finally being all out for 108.

Wakelin added: “The boys really turned up for this one - everyone was superb.

“We knew Braintree would be up for it, but I can’t fault anyone in our side as it was an all round performance.

“Myself and Michael Godwin got off to a good start and after a couple of quick wickets, Michael Glynn and Jim Suett carried it on and they batted brilliantly.

“Pete Austin then played a late innings to get us up to 259 and while we weren’t sure if it was a good total or not, Matt McKendry and Shaun Bragg took early wickets and we also held catches, which was important.

“Everyone did their bit and it was good to get one over our local rivals quite convincingly.

“You have to say it was quite an emphatic win and the boys did the club proud.”

Witham’s next opponents are so-far winless Haverhill at the Park on Saturday, when Carl Bragg is unlikely to be available, but Wakelin said he expected another spinner, Jack Sambrook, to return to the side.

Meanwhile, it proved another busy weekend for the Witham skipper as he took two wickets in helping Suffolk to a 105-run Minor Counties Knockout Trophy win against Wiltshire the following day.