BRAINTREE Cricket Club continued to show the qualities that made them champions of Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship division two right to the end of a very successful campaign.

A two-wicket win against Kelvedon & Feering on the final day capped a fantastic season that has seen the Dolphins finish top of division two and captain Louis Cant was pleased that his team's strengths shone through again.

It has been a campaign where all members of the Braintree squad have made contributions and, while he wasn't available for the final game himself, Cant was delighted that a number of players stood up to be counted again.

“Besides a couple of wickets falling at the end, I think it was a convincing win for us," said the champions' skipper.

“It was another day where the performances came from various people, with Dan Chalk scoring some valuable runs and Geoff Eveling continuing his form with the ball, taking five wickets."

Although he wasn’t available for his team’s final outing of the year, Braintree skipper Cant was thrilled to see them get over the line at the end.

Cant has led the Dolphins to success through a season where they have been the front-runners for much of the time and he felt everyone involved in getting them to the title should feel proud of their achievements.

He said: “Every one of our wins have had the same things in common; patience, consistency and working to a plan.

“For all of us it is extremely satisfying to see our hard work pay off and an overwhelming feeling of pride for the way we have consistently pulled together as a team.”

Braintree’s reward for their win at Kelvedon & Feering and their season of success is a return to the top-flight of the Two Counties Championship next year.

They will be joined by East Bergholt, who finish second behind Braintree, but Cant said going up as champions would make a difference.

He added: “I think it just gives us that extra bit of confidence going into next year, knowing that we deserve to be there.”