Hadleigh 111

Hainault &Clayhall 115-2

(Hainault won by 8 wickets)

Hadleigh crashed to defeat in their Premier Division clash after Ronnie Barker crucially lost the toss in his First game as skipper.

Hadleigh were inserted on a damp wicket and couldn't get their eye in as they were skittled out for "Nelson" - 111.

Vice captain Paul Corps scored 27, while Chiraq Desai notched 20 to lead the Hadleigh batting.

As the pitch dried out later in the day, Hainault enjoyed better batting conditions.

For more information about the Shepherd Neame Essex League, click here Despite success for medium pace seamer Corps (1-18) and spinner Desai (1-14), Hainault raced on to 115 for the loss of just two wickets.

Hadleigh spokesman Jon Wagstaff said: "The conditions cost us. The pitch dried out later in the day and it was meat and drink to their batsmen."

Hadleigh now face a run of three tough matches against Fives and Heronians, Saffron Walden and Wanstead.

Premier Division: Poor Horndon KO'd by a bunch of Fives

Horndon 137

Fives &Heronians 139-2

(Fives won by eight wickets)

Horndon remain winless in the Premier Division after their luck deserted them once again against a strong Fives side.

On a damp wicket the toss was crucial because the ball was moving around in favour of the bowling side.

But Horndon unfortunately lost it and Fives turned the screw after inserting them to bat.

Paul Bennett (27) top-scored as Horndon suffered from batsmen losing their wicket after playing themselves in.

Fives were never going to have too much trouble reaching the tally, although Bennett and opening bowling partner Robbie Coston did manage an early success apiece.

Fives eventually wrapped up the win without losing another wicket to leave Horndon skipper Terry Hills hoping for a change of luck soon.

Horndon are now 50 points adrift at the bottom of the table with seven matches remaining.

Hills said: "Despite everything there's a good team spirit and we're not about to give up.

"We're just like England - we need to improve all three aspects of batting, bowling and fielding!"

Division One: Westcliff tumble off top spot after draw

Woodford Wells 188-8

Westcliff 153-8

(Match drawn)

Westcliff were knocked off top spot in Division One after fighting out a draw with fellow promotion contenders Woodford Wells.

To add insult to injury, third-placed Woodford Wells closed the gap on them slightly with nine bonus points to Westcliff's five.

Woodford Wells batted first and compiled a total of 188.

Their Chalkwell Park hosts bowled well all round as the wickets were spread among all members of the attack.

Woodford also bowled strongly against Westcliff, who laboured a little in reply.

Vince Bird was the only real batsman of note with 47, although two run-outs in mid-innings didn't help the Westcliff cause.

Westcliff eventually fell short by 35 runs with just two wickets remaining.

Skipper Tim Wade admitted: "We never threatened the target, although we weren't ever in danger of losing either."

Wade added that the team remain hopeful of promotion and were eagerly anticipating another tricky match next week away at Chelmsford.

Westcliff are three points adrift of new leaders South Woodford.

(Right) On his toes - Westcliff wicketkeeper Ben McKeith strides into action against Woodford Wells at Chalkwell Park

Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

Division One: Time against Billericay men

Chelmsford 202-8 dec

Billericay 166-5

(Match drawn)

Billericay ran out of time to get a result against Chelmsford as they set to strengthen their promotion challenge.

A shaky start to the season has been forgotten as the Blunts Wall Road side climbed the table.

Skipper Colin Thornton's side were second in the table and trailing leaders Westcliff by ten points going into this clash with seventh-placed Chelmsford.

But Paul Jones (82) and Tim Jones (62) put paid to any hopes the home team may have had of an easy ride.

In the end Chelmsford mustered 202-8 from 51.2 overs.

Billericay set about chasing the target, with Paul Southgate (44) and Gary Hynes (40) producing the goods with the bat.

But after receiving 39 overs in return Billericay were forced to settle for the draw as their 166-5 left them 37 runs short of victory.

Billericay took five points from the game and Chelmsford ten.

Division One: Old Boys' risk fails to pay dividends

Old Southendian 222-3

Brentwood 219-8

(Match drawn)

Old Boys let slip a winning position and could even have suffered an unlikely defeat on the last ball.

Old Boys had switched the game to Chelmsford as their own pitch was in use by Essex but made a slow start in unfamiliar surroundings.

James Blackmore notched a steady 57, while Alan Draycott scored 17 in his last match before moving away through work commitments.

The double act of Des Beckett and skipper Chris Bunce then combined for a tremendous 100 partnership in the last 11 overs. Beckett smashed the bowling all around the ground for 94, while Bunce added an unbeaten 33.

N Porter was the pick of the Brentwood attack with 2-50.

Hopes of an Old Southendian victory rose as medium pacer Chris Sorrell ripped through the top order to leave Brentwood on 24-3.

Old Boys even decided to feed Brentwood some runs so they would chase their target of 222. Brentwood were always behind the run rate, but they could have won if they had hit six off the final ball.

Old Boys skipper Chris Bunce said: "They never looked like winning, but I felt I had to take a risk to win the game."

Division One: Katz on rampage as Wickford battle on

Orsett 239-7

Wickford 209-8

(Match drawn)

Struggling Wickford were left to rue not getting through their overs quicker as they fought out a Division One draw.

Orsett batted first and compiled a healthy total of 239 from 52 overs after opening batsman Katz got stuck in to the Wickford attack with 106.

Left-arm spinner Darren George provided the main thrust of the Wickford bowling, taking 3-75.

Orsett bowled only 39 overs in return, but Wickford made a game attempt to catch the total.

Mark Goddard made most progress with an unbeaten 76, but they were to eventually run out of overs.

Overseas player Alten Vermaak said: "If we'd got our overs finished half an hour earlier we would have stood a greater chance of winning the match.

"Our run rate was far superior to theirs and it's typical of the way our luck has been going this season."

Wickford are still struggling near the bottom of the table, but Vermaak is confident they will survive.

He added: "We're all giving 110 per cent and we just need a bit of luck to put a winning run together."

Division Two: Derby draw blow for duo

Leigh-on-Sea 205-7 dec

Southend 90-7

(Match drawn) This derby stalemate came as a blow to two sides both battling to escape the drop zone.

Southend were second from bottom going into the match with Leigh just one place higher.

With Ardleigh Green well adrift in last place, the local clubs are locked in competition withWalthamstow and West Essex in the race to avoid the other relegation place.

Southend won the toss and put Leigh in on a damp wicket hoping it would dry out when their innings arrived.

But Ray Clarence (41), batting at number three, and Neil Goodman (83), batting at number four, took the score from 64-2 to 185-4.

The hosts went on to make 205-7 before declaring on 52 overs, with Jeremy Lawford (3-32) and Ben Wathen (2-56) leading the Southend attack.

In reply Southend managed 90-7 off 44 overs, with Matt Zovi (22), C Chambers (18 not out), Dave Clarke (16), and skipper Craig Porter (15) getting the lion's share of the runs.

Clarence continued his early good work by claiming three wickets, while Sean Elliott, Alan Henley, Dave Thompson and John Elliott took one each.

Leigh spokesman Eleanor Goodman said:"It was disappointing not getting a win out of this game but Southend never seemed to get going during their innings."

Porter congratulated Leigh on their bowling and said their score had surprised him because of the damp wicket.

"Their total was 50 more than what I had planned for so they batted well," he said.

"I do not think we bowled too badly, our fielders just did not hold their catches.

"The guys are a little bit disappointed but the only thing we can put our finger on to explain it was the dropped catches."

(Right) Tricky delivery - for Leigh batsman John Dyos

(Left) Groom to be - Leigh skipper Adam Goodman is getting married next Saturday

Pictures: STEVE O'CONNELL

Division Three: First-ball scorcher from bowler Burns

Ongar 175-7 dec

Benfleet 127-8

(Match drawn)

Benfleet got off to a flying start against Ongar when Troy Burns bowled their opener with the first delivery of the match.

Things were looking good when the side placed fifth going into this fixture were reduced to 37-3.

But then Stewart (54 not out) and Lucock (41) produced a stand for the fourth wicket which steadied the Ongar ship before the visitors reached 175-7 from their 52 overs.

Burns finished his spell with the ball with 3-30 and Jonathan Edwards took 2-66.

Opener Nigel West led the resistance to Ongar's attack with a knock of 68, his being the eighth Benfleet wicket to fall.

The home side registered visiting Australian player James Cummins and he turned in 15, while skipper Mike Tremain added 13 to the score.

Benfleet had two wickets in tact when the game finished inconclusively. Ongar's overseas player Stewart kept the antipodean flag flying by taking 4-36 and his club-mate Mitchel claimed 3-42.

"It was disappointing that we could not take more out of the game but it is another one that we have not lost," said Benfleet spokesman Ron Steed.

Division Three: Stanford keep on target

Basildon 205-9 dec

Stanford-le-Hope 206-7

(Stanford won by 3 wickets)

Stanford kept up their pressure for a promotion place with this three-wicket victory over bottom placed Basildon.

But the new towners were able once again to take heart from a good performance against a team at the sharp end of the table, following last week's narrow defeat to leaders Old Parkonians.

Batting first, Basildon saw all their order sharing the runs, although Luke Daw came in as seventh man and enjoyed a knock of 45.

Three of their batsmen were run out, while Darren McDonald (3-60) and Danny Copp (2-14), who was promoted from the seconds on Saturday, got among the wickets for Stanford.

Skipper Paul Ayres declared after Basildon had reached 205-9 from their 52 overs and set about dismissing the hosts.

But opener Peter Gray stood firm at the crease for Stanford and ran up 81 runs before his wicket fell 20 minutes before the close.

Gray found good support in the form of Bob Poskett junior (24) and Martin Hathaway (24), who helped keep the home side on target.

But the game ended on a curious note when Duncan Page and Hathaway were attempting to get the two runs needed to win.

The Basildon wicket-keeper held onto the ball from the final delivery of the match and the new towners claimed it was a dead ball.

But the umpires said it was not time for the game to finish and allowed the runs to stand.

"If the wicket-keeper had thrown the ball it would have been a draw," said Stanford spokesman Adrian Page, who was pleased to see his side maintain their second spot in the table.

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