FRINTON Cricket Club skipper Mark Jones believes this season’s title race will go to the wire.

After losing their opening game, the coastal side and reigning champions have made a solid start to their Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship defence.

They have won three of their opening four division one games, most recently Saturday’s six-wicket success at home to newly-promoted Worlington.

Jones’ side are now preparing for two key fixtures at Haverhill on Saturday and at home to Coggeshall on Bank Holiday Monday.

“The standard is much higher this year and I think it’s going to be a tight league, all the way to the end,” said the Frinton skipper.

“Last year there were only two or three sides capable of winning the title, but this time there are six or seven.

“We’re one of them but I certainly wouldn’t rule out the likes of Sudbury, Wivenhoe, Mistley, Coggeshall, Hadleigh or Mildenhall.

“I’m very confident we’ll be right up there in the mix, in the top two or three.

“But it’s going to be a real battle.

“Every game has been difficult so far and they all could have gone either way.

“This coming weekend is going to be important for us, because we’ve got two big matches.

“Haverhill is always a tricky place to go and we’ve had two tight games there in the last couple of years.

“Coggeshall at home should also be an exciting game on Monday.

“They’ve also started well and they’ve got a very dangerous New Zealander, Dane Cleaver.”