Westcliff, beaten off the last ball in their previous game, will hope to give their precarious Premier Division position a lift tomorrow.

They host fellow strugglers, bottom club Fives and Heronians, with a win a must to boost their survival hopes.

Currently fourth from bottom, Westcliff are 35 points clear of the basement club and are also clear of the other two teams below them.

Victory over their visitors tomorrow would aid their bid to move completely clear of all their relegation fears.

The last thing Westcliff want to do is slip back down to Division One after just one season of cricketing action in the top flight of the league.

Aiming to join the big boys next season is the Division One aim of ambitious Wickford.

They came up from the Second Division as champions last term and have impressed everyone by riding high in the hunt for promotion again this season.

The abandonment of last week's game with Chelmsford allowed second-placed Brentwood to move to within 15 points of Wickford.

But they should prove too strong for hosts Orsett tomorrow as they keep their Premier plan on target.

Hadleigh, just five points below Orsett in fourth from bottom spot, could find life tough when they travel to Brentwood.

Leigh are the best placed local club in Division Two.

And they should prove too strong for their next opponents, second from bottom Horndon, who are the hosts.

Basement club Stanford are on a likely hiding at second placed Ardleigh Green.

Published Friday July 23, 2004

Brought to you by the Evening Echo