BEN McKeith has already helped Westcliff Rugby Club win promotion this season.

And now he is aiming to do the same with the cricket team too.

McKeith hit a gritty 78 to help Westcliff win their opening game of the league season against Southend & Ekco Monarchs and Trojans by six wickets and he hopes that can be a sign of things to come.

“It would be great if the cricket season could go as well as the rugby one did and we want to string some good results together,” said McKeith.

“We have Peter Barnes in as captain this year and we're all rallying around him.

“We’re generating the team spirit you need to do well and I really do enjoy my cricket.

“I don’t take it as seriously as I do my rugby but I still want to do well and hopefully we can have a better season this year because the last couple haven’t been the best.”

Southend batted first at Chalkwell Park after being put in by their hosts and scored 192-9 from their 50 overs.

Opener James Holmwood top scored with 51 while Numan Khan hit 45 before being dismissed by Adam Pickering.

He was the pick of the Westcliff bowlers as the youngster took three wickets for just 11 runs in four overs.

In reply, Westcliff passed the required total for the loss of just four wickets thanks to 78 from McKeith and 63 from skipper Barnes.

Old Southendian & Southchurch also started the season with a win, beating Horndon on the Hill by 71 runs.

Southendian were put in to bat after the losing the toss and scored 222-8.

Openers Iain McDonald (42) and Matt Wilson (43) put on a good opening stand before Ben Dowse finished 31 not out at the end of the innings.

Jeff West did the damage with the ball for Horndon, with four wickets for 24 runs, but they were then bowled out for 151 in reply.

Opener Jack Walsh top-scored with 48 but Mike Canavon (31) was the only other player to pass 30.

That was down to some fine bowling from Michael Gridley and Adam Hunt who both took three wickets.

Wickford also won as they beat Stanford le Hope by five wickets.

Stanford were bowled out for just 103 before Wickford past that relatively easily.

But it was not such a good day for Leigh on Sea as they were beaten at Walthamstow by three wickets.

Leigh batted first and hit 201 before Walthamstow, last year’s Division Three champions, edged past that total for the loss of seven wickets