The Shepherd Neame Essex League's new Premier Division is planned to provide all-day cricket - but someone forgot to tell Wickford in their opening game.

They batted First at their Patmore Memorial Ground home and were dismissed for only 64 runs.

With visitors Shenfield knocking these off without loss, the players were all back in the pavilion soon after 3pm.

Wickford lost the toss and were put in on a track that contained a bit of moisture, and they collapsed completely against an opposition whose bowlers all kept a tight line.

England under-17 youngster Ian Letch top-scored with 20, but there was precious little else to write home about.

Another under-17 star, Jamie West, and Greg Ricketts did their best to retrieve something from a disastrous situation with the ball. However, Wickford dropped a catch at a vital time and their day to forget was complete when Shenfield knocked off the runs in only 20 overs.

Said new skipper Jamie Wright: "Obviously it was just the Premier start we didn't need. Certainly the toss was all-important as I would have put Shenfield in if I had won it.

"With the extended playing time the Premier is all about at least a couple of batsmen digging in and staying there for an appreciable time, but this never happened for us.

"We're basically a young side and still learning and we were by no means at full strength.

"Hopefully opener Gareth Wright will be fit to resume after injury next week and we will be stronger when Barry Hyam, the Essex second X1 wicket-keeper, is available."

Wickford are likely to quickly find out that the Premier game will give precious little time for sorting things out and they will be looking for a far better show when they host local rivals Billericay next weekend.

All In vain - Wickford bowlers Jamie Went (left) and Greg Ricketts (right) tried hard but had no real chance of stopping Shenfield cruising to victory after the hosts were all out for 64

Pictures: ROBIN WOOSEY Old Boys bowlers inspire fine win

Stanford-le-Hope 83

Old Southendian 85-5

(Old Southendian won)

The Old Boys made short work of their Stanford visitors to collect a comfortable 18-point tally in this Shepherd Neame Essex League Division two opener at Southchurch Park.

Southendian bowled and fielded well, with James Blackmore being the pick of their attack with a fine 4-25 haul.

Neil Campbell and Dave Slaughter weighed in with a couple each and, although Chris Searle only picked up one scalp, his highly economical 10-over spell early on was vital.

Southendian changed their batting order round and made the runs required for the loss of five wickets. Andy Izod top-scored with an unbeaten 25.

Said Old Boys skipper Chris Bunce: "Getting rid of their star man Peter Gray, plus their Australian import, early on, was significant.

"To be honest, we changed things round when we took the crease to allow people who don't always get much batting a chance.

"The final total flattered them a little bit but we were delighted with our display and the result from our opening game. Blackmore bowled superbly and it's nice to start with a maximum haul of 18 points." Westcliff sniff victory then cling on to draw

Chelmsford 226-7

Westcliff 199-9

(Match drawn)

Westcliff, at one time in with a victory chance, eventually clung on for a draw at Chalkwell Park.

However, it was still a reasonable start for Tim Wade's men in the First Division of the Shepherd Neame Essex League as Chelmsford are expected to be one of the favourites for promotion to the Premier at the end of the term.

Ben Clarke's 4-47 in 14 overs was an outstanding effort for Westcliff, who were put in to bat.

Tom Iliffe's 74 proved to be the high point for Chelmsford.

However, the home side had a good stab at the reply after losing a few quick wickets.

Vince Bird (33) and Steve Geddes (63) put them in with a winning chance before Westcliff were forced to shut up shop late on and picked up six points against the 12 collected by their rivals. Benfleet tip conquerors for top

Harlow 234-4

Benfleet 135

(Harlow won)

Benfleet, very much in the throes of rebuilding, could have wished for an easier task than taking on one of the favourites for Shepherd Neame League Division Three honours this season in their opening game.

Although well beaten in the end, it has to be said that Benfleet did little wrong as the visitors build-up a 234-4 knock in 42.5 overs at Woodside Park.

From 88-3, the new towners accelerated to 234-4 and declared once opener N O'Deadra had passed the century mark. He got good backing from D Mackenzie (47).

Nigel West, who had figures of 2-2 at one stage, finished with 2-70.

When Benfleet replied, new left-handed opener Lewis Edwards was out lbw to a ball that kept low while his partner John Park, who has just returned to the club, made 16 before being caught off a mis-timed pull.

However, it was the knock of former regular Dave Nash that caught the eye. Nash left the club to move to Oxford some years back but agreed to play on a visit back to this part of the world.

Now at what is politely described as a "seasoned campaigner" stage of his career, Nash, in skipper Jon Wright's words, "rolled back the years" with a fine innings of 35.

After a middle-order collapse, Benfleet's hopes virtually went by the board, although hopes for the future were given a boost by 16-year-old Mark Kendrick (21) and 17-year-old wicket-keeper Andrew Jenkins (20).

Benfleet finished on 135 and were beaten but not disgraced.

Said Wright: "Apart from two or three 'old heads' we are very much a young and inexperienced side and we expect Harlow to prove to be one of the stronger sides in this division."

One big worry for Benfleet was the loss of Australian pace bowler Troy Burns with a hamstring injury after only eight overs.

Benfleet earned only two points, but gave more than a glimpse of promise for the future. Southend's all-round strength leaves skipper aiming high

Southend 230-5

Hutton 142-8

(Match drawn)

Southend, who dropped down to the Shepherd Neame Essex League Third Division at the end of last season, are determined to quickly rise back to a higher level.

Judging by Saturday's display at a Hutton side whose pre-League form had included a Cup success over Premier outfit Wickford, the promotion task should not be beyond them this term.

They very much got the better of the draw and collected 12 points against the four picked up by their opponents.

In skipper Nigel Green's own words, it was a solid start and a good all-round display with Brad Everett (58), Numan Khan (52) and Steve Wathen (59 not out) all contributing good knocks.

Hutton looked like making a fist of it at 62-1, but then lost four wickets in an over to be struggling on 95-8.

Good bowling performances from Jeremy Lawford (4-52) and new recruit from Basildon, Lee Stace (4-17) were a major factor and the only real disappointment for the Seasiders was that they failed to capture the final wicket which would have brought them the six other points to take them to an 18-point maximum.

Steve Cotton (25) was the man who helped Hutton hang on by a thread at the end.

Said Green: "Judging by pre-League matches, Hutton could be one of the stronger sides in this division and we're hoping that we'll be among the top teams.

"Our big ambition is first-time promotion, and to do that we'll need plenty of the strong all-round displays we showed here." Leigh grab late glory after delay

Hornchurch 165

Leigh 168-8

(Leigh won)

Leigh got their Shepherd Neame Essex League Division Two campaign off to a thrilling start by beating Chalkwell Park visitors Hornchurch off the penultimate ball of the match.

A traffic delay suffered by Hornchurch on the way meant that the match started 15 minutes late, but the visitors wasted no time in reaching 70 without loss.

However, from that point, Jeremy Holmes (5-71) and John Elliott (3-38) made their mark and bowled the opposition out for 165.

Stephen Adelaine (66) led the Leigh batting reply and Lee Wilson saw them home with an unbeaten 28, but the home side could have been made to pay for bowling no fewer than 17 wides in the Hornchurch innings.

That apart, skipper Simon Burch was entitled to feel a contented man on the opening day's display . . . although he won't want to leave things quite so late regularly.

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