ESSEX U175 TEAM - THE 2002/3 SEASON
SCCU RESULTS
| 5/10/02 | Surrey | H | 8½ | - | 7½ |
| 9/11/02 | Sussex | H | 6½ | - | 9½ |
| 7/12/02 | Middlesex | A | 10 | - | 6 |
| 11/1/03 | Surrey | A | 8½ | - | 7½ |
| 1/2/03 | Sussex | A | 9 | - | 7 |
| 1/3/03 | Middlesex | H | 7½ | - | 8½ |
SCCU TABLE
| Position | County | Played | Match points | Game points |
| 1 | Sussex | 6 | 4 | 53½ |
| 2 | Essex | 6 | 4 | 50 |
| 3 | Middlesex | 5 | 2 | 35 |
| 4 | Surrey | 5 | 1 | 36½ |
NATIONAL STAGES
| 11/5/03 | Cambridgeshire | A | 11½ | - | 4½ |
| 15/6/03 | Warwickshire | N | 8 | - | 8* |
* Warwickshire won on board count.
An ultimately disappointing season. The SCCU championship was, after six consecutive seasons, relinquished to Sussex. The initial damage was sustained in the home match against Sussex, when a likely narrow Essex victory was turned into a decisive defeat as a result of a number of late disasters. The team played well in the next three matches, and managed to win the return fixture with Sussex in Hassocks, but the 9-7 margin meant that a tie break would favour Sussex and the destiny of the championshop was out of Essex's hands. Ironically in the final round of matches, Surrey opened the door with a heavy victory over Sussex only for Essex to blow their chances by losing at home to Middlesex despite being gifted defaults.
In the national stages Cambridgeshire were accounted for comfortably enough, but the semi-final against Warwickshire ended with Julian Winkworth's quickplay finish draw claim being sent to an independent arbiter. The decision (regarded as controversial in many quarters of the County) went against Essex, leading to Warwickshire scraping through on board count to the final where they lost to Sussex. Our congratulations go to Sussex captain Daniel Hirsch on a notable double.