LEIGH 178-4

BENFLEET 179-0

(BENFLEET WON)

Paul Tremain (91 not out) and Troy Burns (an unbeaten 79), whose partnership began thunderously, saw Benfleet home by an incredible ten wickets in Sunday's friendly.

Vic Hewitt (39) and John Monk (39) had earlier put on 80 for Leigh's first wicket in a rain-hit match.

Edward's quickfire runs secure Seconds win

BASILDON IIs 155 all out

BENFLEET IIs 157-5

(BENFLEET WON)

Rob Edwards' quickfire 23 saw Benfleet to victory with three overs to spare in difficult, dark and wet conditions.

Glen Hutchinson made 46 and Phillip Wright 23.

Earlier, Basildon's last six wickets had fallen cheaply, with Benfleet's Tony White notching 4-37 in 14 overs.

Porter carries Thirds

BASILDON IIIIs 183 all out

BENFLEET IIIIs 169-6

(DRAW)

Ninety-seven vital runs from Basildon's R Porter defied fine bowling from Steve Scott (5-39) and held Basildon's innings together as the neighbouring fourth XIs fought out quite a close draw.

Benfleet lost four early wickets in reply, but Brian Parker's unbeaten 52 and Scott's 41 saw them to a draw. J Mignott grabbed 5-56 for Basildon.

Happy recall - Lewis Edwards hit 54 on his return for Benfleet in their abandoned game with Basildon in Shepherd Neame Division Three, so hopes to stay in the side for Saturday's game with Old Brentwoods

Picture: LUAN MARSHALL Leigh cop big loss

LEIGH UNDER-16s 127 all out

COPFORD & COGG 131-3

(COPFORD WON)

Only Dean Waller (29) could slow up Copford & Coggeshall's victory march in this Raffinger Matchplay contest.

Hosts Copford won comfortably, by seven wickets.

The pick of their performances came from J Mooney (5-34) and D Blackwell (77 not out).

TDerby triumph

LEIGH UNDER-15s 135-4

EASTWOOD UNDER-15s 133-8

(LEIGH WON)

Dean Waller's 53 and Christian Matheron's 34 saw Leigh to a two-run derby triumph in their league clash at Chalkwell Park.

James Braithwaite claimed 3-11 to severely curtail Eastwood's realistic hopes of victory, although W Khan (38) and J Brandon (30) produced useful innings for them. Back from the dead

OLD WESTCLIFFIANS 153

RODING VALLEY 140

(WESTCLIFF WON)

An outstanding recovery from 38-5 - then skipper John Williams' 5-60 - combined to seal a fine triumph for Old Westcliffians.

Dave Bullen (39), John Haslam (23), a battling innings from Colin Hastings and 40 extras earned the Old Boys a defendable total of 153.

Then Williams' unchanged spell of bowling, well supported by Hastings' 2-19, finished off Roding, who ended up 13 runs short.

Robbed by the rain

OLD WESTCLIFFIANS IIs 155-6

RODING VALLEY IIs 132-7

(DRAW)

Rain robbed Westcliffians seconds of possible victory after Rob Wood's 4-45 had left Roding poised precariously.

Mark Daine (69) and Jason Pye (31) had earlier enabled the Old Boys to set a decent target. Snowdon peak showfoiled by heavy rain

CANVEY ISLAND 239-6

GOODMAYES & BLYTHSWOOD 136-6

(ABANDONED)

Poor weather forced the abandonment of Canvey's Barking & Dagenham Post League Division Two game when they seemed in command.

Left-hander Terry Snowdon (73), John Scammell (48) and opener Paul Ward (41) gave Canvey's total a healthy look.

Then Snowdown's father, Gary, took 2-25 and Phil Walker 2-31 to restrict Blythswood to 136-6, before the game was ended abruptly 29 overs into their innings.

Both sides earned ten points. The tail wags...

PHOENIX 241-7

CANVEY IIs 139 all out

(PHOENIX WON)

Tailender Dave Higgins hit a gritty 46, but was unable to stop Canvey's 102-run mauling - after Rose had knocked out their top six batsmen.

Jarratt (50) and Cowdrey (48) had put Phoenix in a very strong position, despite figures of 2-29 from the Islanders' left-arm spinner Terry Cockell. 54 for last wicket

CANVEY 150 all out

GORESBROOK 152-6

(GORESBROOK WON)

A last-wicket stand of 54 between David Walker (44 not out) and Gary Snowdon (23) gave Canvey some respectability, but Scott Barwick hit 89 to steer Goresbrook to a four-wicket win.

Canvey's best bowling figures in this 40-overs-a-side came from Gary Snowdon (2-15) and John Gunn (2-26). Hale reigns

CANVEY ISLAND IIs 207-3

OLD CHELMSFORDIANS 172-8

(CANVEY WON)

Opener Steve Hale hit a maiden century and 16-year-old Southend United trainee Nathan Collins made an undefeated 41 in Canvey's 38-overs-a-side triumph.

The pair put on 118 for the Islanders' fourth wicket - then saw Gary Burton (3-33), Mike Gunn (2-37) and Fred Abbott (2-37) contain Chelmsfordians. Freak storm scuppers Billericay

WOODFORD WELLS IIs 235-9 declared

BILLERICAY 137-3

(DRAW)

A freak storm ended Billericay's victory hopes when they needed 99 runs from the final 15 overs.

They had earlier failed to exploit the new ball on a pitch that was helpful to the seamers, as Woodford opener Moss (70) and May - whose selective hitting dominated for 75 - thrived.

Jason Curnick took 6-75 in 16 overs.

In reply, Billericay skipper Dave Pritchard, Scott Noble (20) and Richard Walford revived the visitors' hopes, before a downpour ended the contest.

Billericay picked up five points to Woodford Wells' nine.

Thirds draw

BILLERICAY IIIs 135-5

HAINAULT & CLAYHALL IIIs 179-9

(DRAW)

A four-man seam attack left Hainault reeling - before Billericay themselves faltered.

Stuart Hynes (6-42) and captain Mark Mayhook (3-45) did most of the damage to Hainault's 53-over innings, with only Saleem (45) offering real resistance.

Billericay's reply relied on opener Mike Smith (23), Graham Greenless (32) and Mayhap (34), with Jon Batson and Gary Hynes run out.

However, rain intervened just when the game seemed well poised.

Billericay wicket-keeper Ian Etheridge was taken to Basildon Hospital after receiving a blow to the head. However, he should be available when Billericay thirds host Horndon this weekend.

Farmer makes hay

Steve Farmer's entertaining 77 not out, including 11 fours and two sixes, provided many of the highlights as Billericay sailed past Walthamstow's 135 to record a fine fourth XI victory.

Billericay had taken regular wickets, notably through Jon Pickup (3-31), Chris Jackman (3-13) and Scott Minto (2-28).

Then Randall's unbeaten 50, sprinkled with eight fours, gave Farmer ideal support in Billericay's winning response.

Fourths falter

Opener Alex Saich (50) and Hammond (35 not out) failed to earn Billericay fourths, who finished on 146-9, victory over Gravesend fifths, who had been dismissed for 166.

Billericay's Graham Bangs took 4-42.

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