BURNHAM Sports have been hit with another setback, with hard-hitting batsman Rob Layzell ruled out for up to two months with a broken finger.

Layzell, renowned for his attacking style, suffered the injury in a pre-season friendly but only had it checked at hospital last week. X-rays revealed a nasty fracture that will require corrective surgery this week.

“I’ve been told that I could be out for up to eight weeks,” Layzell said. “I did it dropping a catch in the second over of my first game back and it’s hugely frustrating.”

Layzell’s absence follows Grant Smith, another batsman, leaving the club to play closer to his home in South Woodham.

Scoring runs has been an issue for Sports, who lost their third T.Rippon Mid-Essex League Premier Division in succession by 79 runs at home to Thurrock last Saturday.

Chasing 243 to win in the 45 overs per side contest, they collapsed to 49 for six, and then 78 for eight, before rallying and ending up with a more respectable 163. The previous week they had been dismissed for 68 by Goresbrook.

“We got blown away by the quickest bowler in the league in the match against Goresbrook but I was disappointed with the way we capitulated against Thurrock,” Jamie Hamilton, the Sports captain, said. “The pitch was placid and we really should have done a lot better.

“There were some positives, because we began and ended the game well - but what went on in the middle section just was not good enough.”