Eversley Park duo Peter Woods and Tony Westwell recorded astonishing figures as - just weeks into the season - Harold Wood were dismissed for what could be one of the lowest scores of the summer.

Westwell took 6-8 in 6.1 overs, while Woods claimed 4-5 in seven overs, which included five maidens.

Harold Wood were in trouble from the off, their woeful total of 17 all out including no less than six ducks as Park tore through their inexperienced openeners.

Eversley looked as if they were going to make a fight of it - earlier being dismissed for 141, centred almost entirely on the sturling work of Mark Robinson who ammased 79.

His best support came from Ian Bentley who contributed 20.

For Harold Wood, Birchall was the pick of the bowlers with 6-65 with Pickett taking 2 for 16.

But once the ball was on the other foot it soon became clear that Eversley had done enough to warrant victory. Monarch put on regal performance

ECKO MONARCHS 162-9

WOODHAM MORTIMER 158-8

Ecko batted first to reach their respectable total, but were down to 60-6 at one point.

J Stirk came in for the monarchs to save the day with 67.

Woodham Mortimer, having not reached the target with 11-2, and then 50-7, managed to reach 158-8 in the 45 over game fought out by two evenly matched sides.

The game was lost due to Woodham's lack of catches, having let seven slip through their fingers. Ecko in reply held most of theirs to endorse the expression "catches win matches." Willow are left weeping

GREAT WAKERING SECONDS 201-9

WILLOW HERBS 100 all out

(GREAT WAKERING WON)

Great Wakering seconds soared to their third win in three Mid-Essex League Division Five games.

Brentwood-based Willow might well have regretted putting the visitors in as Phil Adcock (77) and Trevor Burrell (39) guided Wakering to a useful target.

Clive Short made an undefeated 16, while Smith finished with a highly commendable 4-14.

However, 3-11 from Wakering's fast-medium bowler Marvin Watts left Willow's response teetering badly.

Robbie Accleton took 3-22 as only 32 from Wellman held up Wakering's convincing win, which came after 26 overs. Carriers reflect on Benfleet loss after collecting six wicket blitz

BENFLEET SUNDAY SECONDS 164-9

ESSEX CARRIERS 163 all out

(BENFLEET WON)

Carriers were left wondering how they lost after taking six cheap Benfleet wickets.

Carriers' solid batting had presented Benfleet with a target that looked increasingly difficult - but then Coulson came in to defy his number eight status.

He cracked 58, putting on 70-odd runs with number four Scott, and it ultimately left Benfleet needing just three runs to win with three overs left.

Coulson was then dismissed, but Scott Junior came in to hit an assured, unbeaten 10 to guide Benfleet to a one-wicket win.

Brian Mitchell took 3-41 for Carriers, skipper Gary Toplis 2-24, younger brother David Toplis 2-43 and Roly Watts 2-31.

Carriers had batted steadily down the order, David Toplis making 39, Mike Blerkom 32, Gordon Appleton 18, Phil Blerkom 14 and Brian Mitchell 13.

Medium-pacer D Wright grabbed 4-15, including the last three wickets, while Steve Corbyn recorded 2-51. Shoebury on a roll as the points pile up

NORTH SHOEBURY 352-2

STOCK THIRDS 148 all out

(NORTH SHOEBURY WON)

Brian Gardener smashed 211 not out as North Shoebury romped to their highest score ever to move 27 points clears after three games in Division Seven of the Mid-Essex League.

Gardener hit 35 fours and a six as North Shoebury, Division eight and nine champions in successive seasons, rattled up 352-2 in their 45 overs.

Andy Hughes (59), who put on 188 for the second wicket with Gardener, and Phil Slade (26) were both run out, while Nick Shah made an unbeaten 37.

Stock thirds' clung on for 40.2 overs in reply, with Grundy making 45 and Woodward 43, before they were all out for 148.

Kevin Bright (3-5) and Phil Pope (2-9) helped ensure Stock's inevitable defeat. Harwood left isolated as Old Boys batsmen falter

SOUTHEND SECONDS 148 all out

OLD SOUTHENDIAN SECONDS 93 all out

(SOUTHEND WON)

Old Southendian slumped to a disappointing derby defeat in their opening league game after batsman Simon Harwood was left without support.

Ken Porter had hit 41 as Southend made a gettable 148 all out, despite Andy Sasiadek taking 4-25.

However, in reply, Harwood's 38 could not prevent Old Boys crumbling to a 55-run loss, with C Marshall recording 4-21. Slow stands bears fruit

OLD SOUTHENDIAN THIRDS 166 all out

WALTHAMSTOW 96 all out

(OLD SOUTHENDIAN WON)

A slow but crucial third-wicket stand, and Terry Hammond senior's superb bowling spell proved the cornerstone of Old Southendian's convincing win in their first league game since promotion.

Derek Climpson (50) and Phil Clarke (29) produced the Old Boys' key partnership of 63, which provided the ideal base for Rob Naylor (21) and Terry Hammond senior (19) to put on a quickfire 47.

Walthamstow's reposte was simply decimated by Hammond's 7-35 in his 17 overs unchanged, while Steve Giles took 2-32 as the Old Boy's marched to victory. Seconds provide first-class display

RAYLEIGH FAIRVIEW SECONDS 252-2

GALLEYWOOD 43 all out

(RAYLEIGH WON)

Ian Mitchell's unbeaten 101, in his first game back after two years out with a serious ankle injury, shared top billing with 6-24 from 67-year-old Reg Griggs in Rayleigh seconds' 209-run win.

Rayleigh were always in command of their Mid-Essex League Division Eight game as Mitchell enjoyed a stand of 205 with Stuart Faulkner (87 not out), who was guesting from Municipal College.

Then Griggs' wily left-arm spin and 4-18 from Bob Donoven destroyed Galleywood's scant hopes of victory. Sandon snatch victory

RAYLEIGH FAIRVIEW SUNDAY FIRSTS 98 all out

SANDON 99-5

(SANDON WON)

Sandon recovered from 14-4 to snatch victory - after Rayleigh seemed poised for a very low-scoring win.

Fairview had recovered to a still-disappointing 98 all out, courtesy of 21 from Ken Merton in a last-wicket partnership of 36.

Then they scented victory as Sandon collapsed, with left-arm paceman Giles Ecart taking 3-2.

However, Neil Ovell followed up the 3-24 he took in Rayleigh's innings by hitting a match-sealing 58 not out.

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