BLUEHOUSE 147

WOODHAM MORTIMER 148-6

(WOODHAM WON)

Batting first, Bluehouse failed to register enough runs to trouble second placed Woodham Mortimer in this Division Three encounter.

Mason (25) and Fayers (22) were the best Bluehouse had to offer defending the wicket and despite a valiant 3-24 by their quickie Seeley, Woodham reached their total with the loss of six wickets thanks to 49 from Bluntstone.

BLUEHOUSE 2NDS 208-9

BURNHAM SPORTS 2NDS 188-8

(BLUEHOUSE WON)

Bluehouse secured a crucial win against leaders Burnham in their quest for promotion from Division Eight of the Mid-Essex League.

The table toppers had Bluehouse reeling at 41-4, but a 115 fifth wicket partnership from Ally Flint (74) and Dave Harrison (65), turned this match on its head.

An impressive 5-49 from Bluehouse bowler Matt Evans ensured victory for his side, with Burnham's best efforts coming from batsman Carter (48).

SPRINGFIELD 4TH 201-9

BLUEHOUSE 3RD 202-9

(BLUEHOUSE WON)

A club record ninth wicket partnership of 100 saw Bluehouse pull off a one wicket friendly victory against Springfield.

At 108-8 Bluehouse looked to have lost their way, but McGarry (49) and Cox (42) turned the tables in their favour.

BILLERICAY ST JOHN 180

BLUEHOUSE 4TH 159

(BILLERICAY WON)

Despite a spirited effort from Bluehouse they failed to beat Billericay St John's total of 180.

In fact, Bluehouse had Karl Bridger to thank for limiting Billericay's total as he took an excellent 5-34. In reply Bluehouse's Farley scored a rapid 59 runs.

Smith ton sinks Leigh

LEIGH SUNDAY XI 193-7

ARDLEIGH GREEN 194-2

(ARDLEIGH WON)

Leigh slumped to defeat in this Ibex League encounter despite Alistair Horne's top drawer batting display, which reaped 71 runs not out.

However, he was outdone by Ardleigh Green's Roy Smith who clocked up a staggering 116 runs during an unbeaten stay at the crease to inspire his side to an eight wicket victory.

LEIGH 119-10

HADLEIGH AND THUNDERSLEY 120- 3

(HADLEIGH WON)

Hadleigh and Thundersley enjoyed a seven wicket success against Leigh thanks to P Haismon notching up 53 runs not out.

The winning side's bowler Rob King claimed 2-33, but was undone by Leigh's C Stolk, who put on a fine individual performance despite being on the losing team, taking 5-33.

LEIGH 2ND 252-3

OLD BRENTWOODS 153-8

(LEIGH WON)

John Turner continued his recent rich vein of form with an 88 run haul to push Leigh to victory.

It was Turner's third consecutive 80-plus league score and he was well supported by team mate Vic Hewitt who notched up 59 runs.

A Rushent hit 67 runs as he tried to pull Old Brentwoods back into the game, but it wasn't enough.

Wickford lifted by return of key pair

Beleaguered skipper Jamie Wright is cautiously confident that Wickford can pull off their first Premier Division win of the season tomorrow - while Billericay have an outside chance of going top.

Mark Goddard, back for his first game of the season, and fit-again Chris Sharp return for Wickford's home Premier Division game with fellow strugglers Wanstead.

However, pace bowler Andy Baker misses out.

Wright said: "It's our best line-up apart from Andy. He's dislocated his shoulder three times already this season."

Billericay visit Hainault & Clayhall - a place below them in third - without Danny Law (Essex duty) and Andy Maxwell (on holiday). In come 16-year-old leg-spinner Nick Jowett and in-form Adam Samouelle.

Down in Division One, fast-rising Hadleigh & Thundersley, at third-placed Orsett, make an unusual change.

Wicket-keeper Adam Good-man, back from University, comes in for Paul Baker.... so Mike Chapman switches from behind the stumps to swing bowling.

Hadleigh are buzzing after following last Saturday's dominating draw with Ardleigh Green by easily beating Premier high-fliers Hainault to reach the Ess-ex League Cup quarter-finals.

Westcliff are at home to second-placed Chingford.

Vice-skipper Julian Vereker, returning for Rob Coston, and another batsman Jason Plom, who replaces unavailable opener Cliff Jeyes, are back for Horndon at bottom-placed Walthamstow.

Vereker said: "It's a very important game for us. We need a win, but there's only a few points separating us - third from the bottom - with the top half. I'm confident we can climb up."

"With only ten teams in each division this year, you can either be up there or struggling - which I think is excellent because it means there won't be a load of teams with little to play for near the end of the season."

Division Two leaders Leigh host fourth-placed Ilford, who - despite the presence of Pakistan World Cup bowler Mohammed Akram - were thrashed by fellow promotion hopefuls Old Southendian last week.

Simon Goggin replaces Mark Sexton for Leigh.

Old Boys skipper Chris Bun-ce, whose side entertain Horn-church, said: "Our next games are against the three bottom sides so could change things."

Wicketkeeper Dave Johnson returns from holiday, so Jonathan Newberry steps down.

However, Bunce stressed: "It's no reflection on Newberry, as he and everyone played so well last week."

In Division Three, unchanged Southend host Harold Wood.

Benfleet , who share second-bottom spot with Basildon, host leaders Upminster.

Steve Parker, for the holidaying John Good, and Mark Hampton, for the unavailable Mo Isaacs, come in for Basildon at home to fourth-placed Harlow.

WICKFORD II 200-5

HORNCHURCH 186-7

(DRAW)

Ian MacFarlane was the driving force behind Wickford's unsuccessful victory bid by smashing an unbeaten 83 - but Horn-church clung on for a draw.

Mark Everitt also remained in bat to notch up 35 runs as Wickford stayed on top, boosted by young bowler Tony Young - who claimed 4-44 off 13 overs.

WEST ESSEX III 202-7

WICKFORD III 148-5

(DRAW)

Skipper Chris Baker's courageous 55-run blast helped Wickford stave off defeat.

Brian Vincent rallied to his captain's efforts with an unbeaten 40, but West Essex had the edge, despite the best efforts of Wickford's medium pace bowler Nigel Finch's 5-97.

WICKFORD IIII 114

LOUGHTON 115-1

(LOUGHTON WON)

Wickford suffered a humiliating nine-wicket defeat at the hands of a rampant Loughton side.

Peter Wright was the only player among the Wickford ranks to come out of this struggle with any credit as he hit 36 runs.

WICKFORD SUNDAY XI 215-4

SOUTH WOODFORD XI 206

(WICKFORD WON)

An all round display of consistency earned Wickford maximum reward from this encounter with South Woodford.

Greg Ricketts hit 41 not out for the victors and was ably supported by Dave Graham and opener Ian Letch, who hit 35 off 32 balls and 24 from 22 balls, respectively.

Ricketts had as good an afternoon throwing the ball as hitting it as he took 4-27. Wickford's medium pace bowler Nigel Finch claimed 3-29.

WICKFORD SUNDAY 2ND 158-8

GALLEYWOOD 98

(WICKFORD WON)

Bob Fortt and John Turnbull were the stars of Wickford's 60 run triumph over Galleywood.

Top scorer was Fortt with 55, backed up by Turnbull's 39. Johnathan Walker, 4-22, and Nigel Lawrence, 3-19, took Wickford's bowling honours.

Depleted Westcliffians crumble to heavy loss

OLD WESTCLIFFIANS 155

CHADWELL HEATH 156-4

(CHADWELL HEATH WON)

Only Dave Bullen (2-20) bowled with any fire in Westcliffians' depleted attack - after the Old Boys had crumbled from 127-2.

T Byrne (47), A Aley (33) and M Argent (22) had set Westcliffians up, but they fell apart when they tried to accelerate to reach 175- plus. Chadwell Heath then cruised home with five overs left.

Last-ball bye produces tie

ORSETT 189-9

LAINDON 189-7

(TIE)

Laindon's last-ball leg bye produced the rarest of results in a rain-hit IBEX Sunday League game.

Their bowlers, facing the worst of the conditions, worked hard to contain Orsett - for whom Ken Sandeman made a battling 69 - with Gary Savage (3-28) and Simon Marsden (3-58) prominent.

Laindon lost four very quick wickets in reply as Neil White (3-45) bowled a good line.

Yet a sixth-wicket stand of 97 between Andy Willetts (72) and Gary Savage (56) rescued the hosts - before Mark Richardson held his nerve to tie the scores.

Narrow loss for Old Boys

OLD SOUTHENDIAN 209-9

HARLOW 210-5

(HARLOW WON)

A closer match than the result suggests left Southendian with ten points in defeat.

Andy Hathaway (60), Jonathan James (40) and Colin Davis (31), provided the Old Boys' foundation, but G Aspinall took 5-66 for Harlow.

Prodger (64) and Lawless (39) steered Harlow home, with Southendian's most productive bowling coming from Andy Sasiadek (3-52).

OLD SOUTHENDIAN III 227-7

ILFORD 203-5

(DRAW)

A first-wicket stand of 99 between Phil Clarke (49) and Nigel Davis (40) the Old Boys up nicely - before they were frustrated by Ilford's rather negative response.

David Elcock's unbeaten 46 off 21 balls enabled Southendian to declare in good heart.

However, Ilford chose not to chase victory, even though M Sagoo hit 78 not out.

OLD SOUTHENDIAN

SUNDAY XI 86 all out

BROOMHILLS 87-5

(BROOMHILLS WON)

Des Beckett's 5-19 in just 8.3 overs failed to save Southendian as Broomhills cruised to an IBEX League derby victory in just 22.3 overs.

Number nine Chris Sawyer (30) and Richard Dodson (21 not out) boosted the Old Boys' meagre total, but D Miles (4-11) and R Duke (3-38) prospered.

However, P Maquire (35) steered Broomhills to a five-wicket win.

BELHUS 209-3

OS SUNDAY IIs 150 all out

(BELHUS WON)

Francis Baptiste's undefeated 75 sealed Belhus's handsome win in a sportingly-contested friendly.

Jason Chu (34) and club chairman John Dodson (18) had earlier helped the Old Boys reach respectability, with Didd (2-19) and Thompson (2-20) notching Belhus's best bowling figures.

Then Baptiste's stylish innings guided Belhus home, with help from N Morris (38) and Samson (39 not out).

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.