BRANTHAM Cricket Club vice-captain James Pearce believes his side can challenge for honours again next season.

The club recently sewed up the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship division eight title, after winning 15 of their 18 fixtures.

They have now been elevated into division seven, for the 2016 campaign.

And Pearce, who works alongside Saturday team skipper Lee Cooper, sees no reason why his side cannot compete at the top-end of the table again.

“If we hold on to the players we’ve got, as well as perhaps making one or two additions, we’ve got every chance of repeating our success next year,” he said. “The past three winners of division seven had won their division eight region the year before, so it’s a good omen.

“I think it dawned on the players over the season just gone that this may be our only chance to get out of division eight for some while.

“It helped them give that extra ten per cent.

“Often the lowest division in any sport can be the toughest to get out of, with new teams entering each year who are unknown quantities.

“Division eight in our league is split into south, east and west regions with only the winner of each getting promoted into division seven.

“The runners-up stay in division eight, so it’s extremely unforgiving and a big achievement to have won the title in the style we did.”

Pearce skippered the side on four occasions, in Cooper’s absence.

And he says it was a great experience.

“The team endeavoured just as hard under me as they did for Lee,” he said.

“I was helped by players like Stuart Cooper, Tony Nicholls and John Powell, who have been playing cricket since before I was born, and I never felt isolated.

“I didn’t know what to expect at the start of the season.

“I missed 2014 as I needed some time off from the game and didn’t even know if I’d be welcomed back into the team, but that was doing the boys a huge disservice and it was like I’d never been away.

“Lee has managed to instil a more competitive element to the team but without compromising on enjoyment.

“I always walked off the field having enjoyed my afternoon, unlike in 2013 when I was disillusioned after most games.

“We play hard on the field but always get behind each other.

“If someone drops a catch or misfields we encourage as oppose to criticise.

“Eight or nine of us stay for a drink after the game, be it home or away, and it creates an environment where everyone wants to be there.”