WITH the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship division table is showing a successful start to Braintree Cricket Club's season, captain Dan Garner insists there is further reasons for encouragement behind the leading statistics.

Dan Chalk was the star with the bat and Barry Stephens led the way again with another excellent bowling display as Braintree saw off high-flying Lakenheath in a 37-run victory that placed them second in the division two table ahead of Saturday's trip to leaders Haverhill.

The performance continued a superb opening to the campaign for Garner's side, but he feels there is more to come from his team and is pleased that responsibilities are being spread around throughout the side.

Garner said: "It’s very important that people are stepping forward each week as every player will go through highs and lows with their form.

"So it's vitally important that when players are in their good run like Dan (Chalk) is at the moment, is to make it count and score the 100s or take the five-wicket hauls.

"Even behind the stats, we have people in good form who haven’t got their rewards yet for their good form.

"Robbie Spalding has been bowling very well with the new ball but unfortunately health reasons meant he had to take a break, while Louis Cant has been bowling well this season but also hasn’t got the wickets he has deserved.

"Batting wise, we still haven’t seen the best form from most of our order, which is encouraging considering our current league position and the fact we have so much more to offer in terms of our the potential runs we could see.

Garner said Will Jackson, Cant and Rory Ainsley may be missing for the trip to Haverhill, when Braintree will go up against another of their promotion rivals and the skipper is hoping for another positive display

He added: "Saturdays game (against Lakenheath) was very important, especially against a side who were unbeaten beforehand.

"We had spoken about these important games in the season and how we had to put in a performance if we were serious about our promotion ambitions.

"That will carry on into this weekend against Haverhill; so far they have led the way in the league and it will be a tough game.

"Our season certainly doesn’t depend on this game but if we could turn over Haverhill at their home ground it would be a huge momentum switch in terms of the league and the rest of the season."