Steve Stacey, normally a fast bowler, opened the Canvey innings as an experiment and top scored with a great unbeaten 47 from 42 balls.

He got good backing from Dave Shroder, 27 not out in 20 balls, as the Islanders won by eight wickets with 25.5 overs to spare.

Earlier, Nelson and Selby hit 19 runs apiece for Centurions as Gary Snowdon, Michael Gunn, John Gunn and Trevor Poulsom grabbed two wickets apiece.

Canvey are still on the lookout for players of a reasonable standard to strengthen their ranks. Any youngsters showing an interest would also be welcome. Phone John Gunn on 01268 470705.

Timed to perfection - Billericay's Jonathan Walford produces another classy stroke, but otherwise failed to cash in during his side's Shepherd Neame Premier Division rout of Wickford

Picture: MAXINE CLARKE Howes' all-round bid can't save Hadleigh

HADLEIGH & THUNDERSLEY 180 all out

HAINAULT & CLAYHALL 184-9

Hadleigh seconds suffered the closest of defeats - by one wicket with one over to spare - despite the splendid all-round efforts of T Howes.

He hit 35, then took 4-60 as Hainault crept to victory. Wagstaff's ton just enough

HADLEIGH & THUNDERSLEY 229-4

HAINAULT 228-8

Haldeigh skipper Jon Wagstaff transformed a splendid game with an unbeaten 106 - then saw Hainault fall just two runs short of victory in a nail-biting finish.

Hadleigh, put in, were struggling at 38-2 after 21 overs.

However, Wagstaff came in to hammer the Hainault attack all around the ground, hitting four sixes and ten fours.

Dave Greaves' fine 52 not out gave strong support as the pair put on 116.

Hainault's response was based around B Saran, who was finally run out for 65.

The best bowling figures for Hadleigh came from D Harrod, who finished with 3-41, and R Harding, who took 2-27. Chequers' proud loss

WROTHAM ST GEORGE 213 all out

CHEQUERS 132 all out

(WROTHAM WON)

Canewdon side Chequers travelled to Kent for their annual match with Wrotham St George and fared well, despite an 81-run defeat.

The Kent men are the strongest side Chequers play and they managed to get them all out for 213 - which was certainly a first.

Evans hit 60, skipper Geoff Witts 38 and Stacey Buss 23 for Wrotham.

Graham Kitchener claimed 3-27, Simon Broad 3-22 and Chris Tanton 3-66 as he bowled 13 overs straight off to claim the scalps of Wrotham's best batsmen.

In reply, Chequers made 132 all out with the main resistance coming from Simon Board (50), David Cornwall (50) with Matthew Crisp 14 not out. Wrotham's top bowlers were Fearn (3-27) and Burton (2-24).

The Kent side visit Canewdon in August for the return match. Batsmen on top

RUNWELL 206-4 declared

ESSEX CARRIERS 133-4

(MATCH DRAWN)

A game dominated by batsmen left Carriers with little chance of overhauling Runwell's target.

Runwell particularly thrived, number three Butler hitting a fine 77, Prasaad 36, Simon Clarke an unbeaten 34 and opener Callaghan 30.

Matthew Hutt took 1-32, Gordon Appleton 1-40 and Dave Toplis 1-46.

Carriers battled well to challenge Runwell's 206, but soon realised a draw was inevitable, despite useful knocks from Appleton (39), Steve Rogers (29), Roly Watts (23) and opener Mike Blerkom (20).

His brother Phil Blerkom finished on 10 not out.

One wicket apiece went to Runwell bowlers Mole, Jim Sloane, Clarke and Mears. Canvey cruise to win

GORESBROOK 204-9

CANVEY ISLAND 205-8

(CANVEY WON)

Paul Ward, who hit his maiden century last week, carried on the good work with another ton as Canvey triumphed in their Bar-king and Dagenham Post Division Two clash with Goresbrook.

He hit 101 this time and, with fellow opener and captain Neil Casson making 50, the Islanders triumphed by two wickets.

Earlier, as Goresbrook hit 204-9 in their 45 overs, Phil Walker took 3-47 and Gary Snowdon 2-30.

Steve Stacey collected 2-35 in his side's fine display. Britannic perform well

BRITANNIC LODGE 2ND 281-7

CANVEY ISLAND 2ND 44

(CANVEY LOST)

Canvey's weakened side - they were only able to field nine men - crashed to 44 all out.

Sixteen-year-old opener Darren Wright, who made 12, was the only player to reach double figures.

Earlier, Dave Higgins took 2-38 and Mike Gunn 2-32 as Frost led the Lodge total with 87. Southend swoop to conquer

OLD BRENTWOODS IIs 218-5 declared

SOUTHEND IIs 219-5

(SOUTHEND WON)

Openers Dave Alcock (57) and Wayne Spear (49) took Old Brentwoods' attack apart to prompt an excellent five-wicket triumph for in-form Southend in the Sheperd Neame second XI Division Two.

James Holmwood added a sound 40 as the seasiders coasted past their target of 218 after 47.2 overs.

Mike Gridley's steady spin had earlier picked up four wickets in Brent-wood's reasonably-challenging innings of 218-5 declared from 52 overs. Nine men beat eleven

SAFFRON WALDEN 194-7

SOUTHEND IIIs 195-1

(SOUTHEND WON)

Nine-man Southend thirds cruised to a remarkable SNEL Division Two victory at Victory Sports - and again the openers were the stars.

Dave Singh (90 not out) and Chris Chambers (52) enabled Southend to reach 195-1 with some ease.

Veteran George Gosling (2-19) and Johnny Horne (2-54) recorded Southend's best bowling figures. Eight men win too!

SOUTH WOODFORD 169-8

SOUTHEND 170-5

Southend fourths sealed a superb weekend for the club - and only had EIGHT men!

Southend, who were chasing South Woodford's 52-over total of 169, raced to their target off 39.3 overs.

The key to their innings was 61 not out from their evergreen batsman Dave Stranks. Rayleigh slump

RAYLEIGH FAIRVIEW 81 all out

OLDCHURCH 84-1

(OLDCHURCH WON)

Dave Simpson (22) was left without support as Rayleigh Fairview slumped to a nine-wicket Mid-Essex League Division Four loss.

Mindhass (4-22) and James (3-8) ripped through Fairview's innings, before classy opener Bremner steered Oldchurch to victory with an unbeaten 59. King John reign supreme

KING JOHN 148-6

WESTLEY 114 all out

(KING JOHN WON)

Tim Lowes was the all-round star as King John earned a comfortable win at Basildon's Gloucester Park.

Lowes hit 80 and Lee Randall 33 as King John made 148-6, while W Everest (2-26) and D Harrison (2-26) recorded Westley's most notable bowling figures.

Only C Deacon (29) and W Everest (16) held out in Westley's response, with Lowes (3-12) and Mark Baker (3-19) doing most to decimate their innings. Spicer on form

HAVERING BLUES 169 all out

EVERSLEY PARK 172-4

Nigel Spicer (71) and Tony Morgan (33) helped Eversley race to victory in just 24 overs in the Reefers 90 League.

Pore (46), Smith (32) and Skinner (22) had earlier formed the backbone of Havering's innings.

Four seamers - John Wallis (2-9 in three overs), Mick Robinson and Ian Bentley, who both took 2-42 in nine overs, and Tony Westwell (2-35 in nine) - were Park's main wicket-takers.

Then only Bishop, who finished with 2-21 in four overs, came close to taming Eversley. Gardener digs deep

BROOMFIELD SECONDS 176-9

NORTH SHOEBURY 177-4

Brian Gardener continued his phenomenal start to the season - he averages 120 - as North Shoebury opened up a 40-point lead at the top of the Mid-Essex League Division Seven.

Gardener, who hit an unbeaten 211 the previous week, cracked 68 this time, while Phil Slade (28), Nick Shah (25) and Andy Hughes (21 not out) all chipped in.

Broomfield bowler Nigel Marshall took 2-35, but in vain as his side failed to protect their rather limited 176-9 in their 45 overs.

Matt Dobson (67) and Ian Bowyer (47) were Broomfield's main batsmen, but Jim Cousin (3-12), Jerry Joseph (2-26) and Peter Bradfield (2-29) were successful for North Shoebury.

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