2016 Season Preview
Written by Kevin Hewes
Wednesday, 06 April 2016 17:29
On the eve of the 2016 NECL season, and after the breathless conclusion to the World T20, it is time to dust off the crystal ball and predict the ups and downs for the forthcoming season. Four teams withdrew at the AGM, Great Bentley, Little Bardfield Village, Coggeshall, who all will take their place in the newly formed T20 competition. Copford were the fourth team to withdraw and sadly will not participate in any NECL competitions in 2016, after 36 seasons in the competition. The weekend competition was restructured and will see just four divisions this year, with eight teams (High Easter withdrew post AGM after 15 years in the NECL) in the top flight, and nine in the remaining three divisions. The Cup and Plate competitions have been suspended for 2016. The action begins in Division One, with three games being played this coming weekend. Colchester & E.E. host Elmstead on Saturday, and will then entertain Frinton on Sunday. While Elmstead will complete a busy opening weekend for them by travelling to Wivenhoe on Sunday. Realistically any one of the established four could claim the title depending on their availability. In the last two years I have predicted Wivenhoe to lift the title, and they have let me down, so in fairness to them I will relieve them of the monkey on their back for 2016 and predict someone else. Mistley, the reigning champions, Frinton and Colchester & E.E will once again figure at the top of the tree, along with Wivenhoe and nailing my flag to the mast I will go for Frinton to come out on top, with Wivenhoe second, Colchester & E.E third and Mistley slipping to fourth. Although we will get an early gauge as to who will set the pace as the fixture computer has served up some big fixtures over the opening two weeks of the season, with Colchester entertaining both Frinton and Wivenhoe, and champions Mistley hosting Frinton. Of the sides that were promoted you would think that Great Horkesley & Lexden are best equipped to stay in the Division, having got into a run of success over the last two season’s winning the Second Division title twice. Eight Ash Green have a good young side developing, and finished strongly last year to claim the runners up spot in Division Two, but it may be a case of a season too soon for them, with I feel them battling with Elmstead to stay in the division. Stebbing make up the eight teams, and are making their debut in the top flight of the NECL after eight seasons. They made a good start last year but slipped up as the season went on, and I predict them to slide back into Division Two with Eight Ash Green. Division Two is even harder to predict with four of the bottom five in last year’s second division coming up against five of the top six in Division Three. Harwich & Dovercourt won the third division title convincingly last season, losing only one match, and I would predict them to go well again this year and claim the title. Chappel & Wakes Colne, Great Totham and Witham could all vie for promotion, all three have the ability to threaten at the top, with I think Chappel claiming the runner up spot. I see Gosfield and Ardleigh comfortably ensconced in mid division, with the battle for relegation coming between Purleigh, Clacton and Earls Colne with the latter two to make the drop. Division Three is also an interesting conundrum when coming to predicting. Due to the restructure we have sides who played in all five divisions last year. Last season’s Division Four champions Springfield, and Division Five champions Kelvedon & Feering will both be hoping for further honours in 2016. Copdock also had a good season in Division Five last season, losing only two matches. Abberton are strong enough to be in the frame, after finishing as runners up in both Division Four and League Plate last year. Whilst there is the unknown of what Halstead side will appear, having requested demotion from the top flight at the 2015 AGM. West Bergholt were relegated from the old Division Two, and if they were to get their act together they could challenge. Total guess work, but I will plump for Kelvedon & Feering and Abberton to make the promotion places. Copdock & OI, Halstead and Springfield should be in the chasing group. That would leave Cavaliers, Kirby, West Bergholt and West Mersea battling out at the lower end, with I think Cavaliers and Kirby making the drop. Finally, in Division Four I expect another competitive battle for the honours. I fancy Galleywood will be a strong contender for the title, but will have to overcome recently relegated sides Great Braxted & Tiptree and Rayne, who should both perform better in the lower division. I also expect 2015 wooden spoon contenders Boxted and Tendring to make a better fist of it this time round, and to be at the business end of the table. The young Coggeshall side should have enough ability to pose a threat on their day to any side in the division, but consistency may be the factor for them in getting into the promotion battle. Real Oddies, celebrating their 25th season, Great Horkesley & Lexden 2nds and Chappel & Wakes Colne 2nds will contest the battle in the lower reaches for the wooden spoon. The inaugural NECL T20 competition will commence on 17th April when Great Bentley will entertain Clacton. The eight teams will play a round robin competition of 28 matches up to the 14th August, with the top four going forward to the Finals Day on August Bank Holiday Monday at Mistley. I fancy Colchester & E.E, Wivenhoe and Mistley will be three of the sides to reach finals day, the fourth side could be anyone from Kelvedon & Feering, Little Bardfield Village or Coggeshall, as all possess match winning T20 players, however, I will go with Coggeshall to make the Finals Day. Clacton and Great Bentley will bring up the rear in the regular season. I would have Colchester & E.E. with their recent national T20 experience as the first champions of the competition. I apologise for putting any extra pressure on those sides I expect to finish at the top of their respective divisions, and also I intend no malice to those I have predicted for the drop. It is all to play for, just look at Leicester City !! Good luck to every club and player taking part in the 2016 NECL competitions.