FRINTON Cricket Club’s Tom Benn wants to kick-start his season and put his injury worries behind him.

The wicketkeeper has been troubled by a hip flexor problem but returned for Saturday’s 122-run success against Copdock and Old Ipswichian, at Ashlyns Road.

It was Frinton’s third straight win after losing their opening two Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League matches.

And although Benn has only missed one of them – the victory at Bury St Edmunds – he admits the niggling hip problem has overshadowed his season so far.

“It’s been very frustrating,” he said.

“I don’t mind watching the boys bat because I’m used to that but it was horrible seeing them all go out to field together and not being part of it. I hated it.

“I thought it was my quad when the injury first happened but I was told straight away it was my hip flexor and probably down to overuse.

“It was a bit sore after playing at Cambridge Granta on the Sunday and then I was sprinting for a quick single with Kemar (Smith) in our (North Essex League) game (at home to Colchester and East Essex) on the Bank Holiday Monday.

“It just went twang. I’ve never done that before but fell to the ground because it was so painful.

“It’s been very frustrating.

“I had a great year last year and didn’t want it to end, because I felt I was on an upward curve.

“But it doesn’t feel like this one has got started for me yet.”

After missing the Bury match, Benn managed to get through the following week’s game – a defeat against Great Witchingham.

However, he felt the injury affected his performance and he said he wouldn’t have played again last weekend had he not felt ready.

“I felt like I got in the way against Witchingham,” he said.

“It wasn’t a positive for me to be there. I was more of a hindrance.

“It was nice to play again last weekend but I wouldn’t have done had my hip not felt right.

“I’d rather have waited another week.

“I’m very much a team man so wouldn’t want to drag the boys down by playing when not fit.

“That would have been selfish and unwise.

“It’s a long season and I would have erred on the side of caution, had I not felt right again.”

Frinton batted first and made 227 for nine from their 50 overs, largely thanks to another captain’s innings of 86 from Kyran Young.

Copdock were then 105 all out, with Michael Comber taking three wickets and two apiece for Young, Mervyn Westfield and Smith.

Benn took a catch to dismiss Copdock opener – and former Clacton captain – Martyn Cull before stumping Sam Webb-Snowling.

“We’re a real team with great strength in depth,” said the wicketkeeper.

“There are people you can depend on to come in and do a job, irrespective of the first-choice 11.

“We believe in ourselves and it was quite sickening to have underperformed in the two games we lost this season.

“We’ve got some really competitive people in our team – people who expect so much of themselves because they’re so talented - but I think those defeats gave everyone a kick up the backside. Hopefully we can push on from here.”