Smith ecstatic after big weekend for Hornchurch
Hornchurch captain Roy Smith (L) applauds his team (pic: Gavin Ellis/TGSPHOTO) - Credit: Gavin Ellis/TGSPHOTO
Captain delights in achievements of club in both league and cup
Hornchurch skipper Roy Smith praised the fforts of his team after seeing the side achieve double success over the weekend.
On Saturday, the Essex Division One table toppers beat closest challengers Southend to extend their lead at the summit before defeating Wanstead in their Essex League T20 quarter-final on Sunday.
And it was the heroics of Hornchurch against the Premier Division title chasers that left Smith particularly delighted, commenting on how much belief the team had in pulling off an upset.
“We probably let Wanstead get away a bit at the end of their innings and let them get 20 to 30 runs too many. Even so I had confidence in my boys we could win it,” he said after securing a four-wicket triumph.
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“I said to the boys that we needed to keep our heads and keep our cool. Max Osborne’s 50 was fantastic.
“He had to change his game a bit but was allowed a bit more freedom after Chris Saines came in and he can hit a ball.”
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Less than 24 hours before marching on in the T20 competition, Smith’s men had put daylight between themselves and their rivals in Division with a 36-run victory over Southend.
Hornchurch had amassed a huge 368-6 but Southend themselves were now slouches with the bat, closing just short on 332-8.
It was a result that saw Hornchurch move 37 points clear at the top of the table thanks to a mammoth 255-run stand between Smith and Paul Walter.
“We had the scoreboard going with a few 20s and 30s before me and the Yeti (Paul) put on over 250 which was fantastic so we had to carry on and stay there. We filled our boots.
“We were a bit half-hearted at times when fielding. Sometimes when you get a big score on a hot, sunny day you can can take your foot off the gas.
“It’s something which I don’t like to see happen but we won the game so we can work on those other things later.”
