HADLEIGH & Thundersley have tasted their first victory of the season, beating South Woodford by 67 runs.

The victory moved Hadleigh up to third in the Division One standings and delighted their skipper Richard Revell.

“After coming close in previous matches we finally got our first win of the season which felt really good,” said Revell.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game when we lost the toss and were put into bat on what was a fairly damp pitch.

“We struggled on the slow pitch but managed to post 139 which was something to bowl at.

“In reply we managed to take a couple of early wickets and South Woodford never got going.

“The lads were superb in the field and we bowled them out for 70, with myself picking up 6-15 and Sam Handley getting three.

Hadleigh were put into bat after losing the toss and were bowled out for 137.

Adam Soilleux top scored with 31 while opener Paul Tibbenham hit 30 and Jack Wagstaff 22.

But, in reply, South Woodford were dismissed for just 70.

Hadleigh skipper Revell did most of the damage as he took six wickets for 15 runs off 11 overs.

He was ably assisted by Handley who took 3-29 as Hadleigh came out on top to move up to third in the table, just two points below the promotion places four games into the new season.

Billericay also secured their first win of the Division One season on Saturday, beating Buckhurst Hill by three wickets.

Buckhurst Hill made 160 in their innings before Billericay reached the required total for the loss of seven wickets.

Adam Marchant was the pick of Billericay’s bowlers, taking 3-29, while Paul Walter - who also plays for Essex - took 2-28 and Ross Poulton 2-50.

Opening batsman David Hinnigan got Billericay off to a good start in their innings, scoring 40 before Walter, batting at number three, hit 43.

But skipper Lee Knight, with 11 not out, and Rob Lee, with 14 not out, were able to guide Billericay to their first success of the season as they moved up to eighth in the table.

Also in Division One, Orsett & Thurrock beat Gidea Park & Romford by 99 runs.

Orsett batted first and made 187 in their innings.

Mark Pavitt top scored with 49 not out while opener Umar Ayub made 39 and Daniel Laird 30.

But Gidea Park could only score 88 in reply.

Shahid Khan took 4-20 for Orsett and Agha Tahir 3-8 as Orsett were able to come out on top.

However, despite the victory, they remain second from bottom in the standings.

Elsewhere, Belhus drew with table-topping Woodford Wells.

Belhus made 245/9 in their innings with Danny Joyce and Ryan Wells both scoring 74.

Danny Norris made 35 before Woodford made 188/8 in reply.

Norris took 3-34 and Matt Doran 3-49 but the game ended in a draw with Belhus remaining fourth in the table.

This weekend Billericay travel to Harold Wood, Hadleigh & Thundersley are at Gidea Park & Romford while Belhus host Orsett.