HALSTEAD and Coggeshall kept up the pressure at the top of the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship table.

With leaders Worlington and second-placed Woolpit both winning, the Essex pair stayed in touch with important victories of their own on Saturday.

Halstead's success was by the slender margin of one wicket at Wivenhoe, with opener Chris Huntington (66) playing a pivotal role in helping his side reach their target of 195.

Skipper Joshua Wells also chipped in with a valuable 44.

Earlier, Wivenhoe's Tom Durrell had made 84 while Liam Holyman was also unfortunate to finish on the losing side, taking four for 44 in his 8.4 overs.

Coggeshall won by 103 runs at home to Hadleigh, with William Blackwell's 100 and 69 from Jimmy Rees underpinning their total of 251 for eight.

Robert Jagger then took five for 25 in 9.4 overs to leave the Suffolk side all out for just 148.

Witham, in fifth, had a day to forget after losing by 213 runs at Worlington.

The Suffolk pacesetters batted first and made an eye-catching 315 for seven - a total Witham had no response to as they tumbled to 102 all out.

Elsewhere, there was a timely victory for Elmstead at home to Mistley.

Craig Watts (70), Jordan Elliott (56) and Dan White (46) gave them a solid start as last season's champions batted first and made 251 for seven.

Mistley went close when it was their turn to bat, with Sizme Masondo hitting 83 and Adrian Stockton and skipper Danny Goff - who earlier took three wickets - both managing 58.

However, the Swans fell just short and lost by seven runs.

Frinton won by 44 runs at home to Ipswich.

James Baker (80 not out) and Sam Brynes (50) guided them to a total of 201 for six from their 50 overs.

Baker and Brynes then starred with the ball, taking three wickets apiece, as Ipswich were all out for 157.

Nick Patel and Tom Lawes both chipped in with three wickets.

The other first division contest saw Maldon go down by 60 runs at Woolpit, despite three wickets apiece for Matt Wild and Chris Harris, 73 from Harris and 52 from Jimmy Ainscough.

Robbie Spalding took a stunning six wickets in Braintree's second division at home to East Bergholt.

His haul came at the expense of 60 runs in 13 overs as the visitors were all out for just 136.

Braintree then romped home by six wickets.

Clacton enjoyed an impressive 83-run victory at Copdock and Old Ipswichian.

There was no doubting the star of the show as Bradley Pitts plundered 123, ably supported by Ryan Chamberlain (53 not out) and Kieron Parkes (47).

Copford suffered an agonising three-run defeat at home to Mildenhall - despite Stephen Moriarty's four wickets and Tomas Helmer making 61 - while Kelvedon and Feering and Little Bardfield Village suffered heavy defeats at the hands of Haverhill and Lakenheath respectively.