SOUTHEND & EMT started life in Division One with a five-wicket defeat against Colchester & East Essex on Saturday.

The Seasiders were bowled out for 121 after winning the toss and electing to bat.

And skipper Joe Robbins knew that total was never going to be enough to trouble a strong Colchester side, who were relegated from the Premier Division last season.

“I won the toss and decided to have a bat as we thought getting runs on the board in the poor weather would make it tough for them to chase but unfortunately 121 was never going to be enough,” said Robbins.

“We did manage to get them five down and it could maybe have been a different story if we had managed to score 50 more runs or so.”

Southend struggled with the bat as four of their top five failed to make it in to double figures, leaving number nine Dale Hackney as the top scorer with 33 runs from 37 balls.

Michael Gridley then impressed with the ball for Southend as he took three wickets for 30 runs, while Robbins also chipped in with 2-29, but Colchester were still able to secure the victory.

Wickford’s game at Harlow ended in a draw after the wet weather forced the game to be abandoned.

Harlow batted first and made 202-8 before declaring.

Chirag Desai led the way with the ball, taking 3-22 before Wickford’s own innings ended on 131-6.

Opening batsmen Tinotenda Mawoya top-scored with 43 runs before the rain led to the match being stopped.

It was a similar story for Hadleigh & Thundersley in their game against Woodford Wells.

Woodford made 185-4 with Richard Revell and Kellon Carmichael both taking two wickets each before the match was called off due to the rain which hit the fixture list hard.