Batting form costs Rays

5:25pm Thursday 7th August 2008

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Braintree Rays’ poor form with the bat continued after they lost at home to Bracknell Blazers, in an occasionally bad-tempered game.

The Rays’ inability to make hits and make them count has contributed to their downfall over recent weeks.

A strong start by Braintree saw seven runs home in the first inning to only two from Bracknell.

But after pitching changes by Bracknell, their consistent batting ate away at the lead that Braintree had created.

Braintree were unlucky that in some ways, while Wesley Seymour was able to pitch well through his innings, the Bracknell hits seemed to find the gaps in the field and allow them to progress around the bases.

The Rays’ almost total disaster at the plate led to only two runs being added to the first inning’s score.

Even Braintree’s more consistent and regular hitters failed to make their appearance at the plate count.

They were either struck out by good pitching from the mix of Bracknell pitchers, fielded out, or left stranded on base as the one or two hits made were never enough to bring runners home to score.

Braintree’s nine runs were eclipsed by Bracknell’s 16.

Despite the occasional grumbling by both teams, the young players of Bracknell were a strong team and deserved their win.

If they can stay together and develop, they will surely be very strong contenders for more senior leagues in the future.

The Rays could take one or two positives from the game.

As the match progressed to the last three innings, the Rays did seem to rally and there were some notable strong plays, in particular a fine double play by Wesley Seymour and Glenn Barton and two deep centre field catches by rookie Ben Watling.

In addition, a crumb of comfort can be drawn from the fact that Braintree did not succumb to their normal one inning of errors and massive run loss.

With only four wins from nine games, Braintree now travel to play at Hemel Hempstead, Reading and Southampton, hoping their form in the earlier part of the season will return.

The Rays’ next home game is against Croydon Pirates on August 31 at King George V Playing Field.