SOUTHEND & EMT skipper Wayne Spear was full of smiles after seeing his side beat another of their local rivals on Saturday.

Spear’s team saw off Old Southendian & Southchurch by 105 runs at Southchurch Park.

And that win came just seven days after Southend had also beaten Leigh on Sea.

“It was brilliant to beat another of our local rivals and we were just too strong for them,” said Spear.

“We had a chat among ourselves and, this season, we want to be aiming to be the best local side at this level.

“If we can do that then we will have a good year because this really is such a local league.”

After winning the toss, Southend opted to bat and made 241-8 in their allocated 50 overs.

Opener Kevin Grant top scored with 90 before being run out and the score was also boosted by some explosive late exploits from Numan Khan, who made 46 not out.

Matthew Taylor was Southendian’s best bowler as he took three wickets for 31 runs but his side then struggled with the bat and were dismissed for just 136.

Opener Iain McDonald initially impressed with a fine 68 but none of his team-mates were able to score more than 17 runs, and that saw Southend come out on top.

Chris Hunt did the damage with the ball for the Seasiders as he took four wickets for 22 runs, while Maxwell McNamara chipped in with three wickets for 44 runs.

But while Southend were celebrating a second successive victory, Wickford were left ruing another close defeat.

Andy Baker’s side were beaten by two wickets by table-topping Harlow, just a week after being seen off by one wicket against second-placed Walthamstow.

“It’s encouraging that we’re getting close to the top teams but frustrating not to be winning,” said Baker.

“We could’ve won this week as Harlow had only 10 players batting so we were really just one wicket away from getting the victory and we dropped two catches that could have won us the game.

“It’s disappointing but it does bode well for the rest of the season that we are getting so close to the top two teams in the division.”

Wickford batted first against Harlow and scored 214 all out.

Baker top-scored with 57, while Derek Etchells, with 34, and opener Tanvir Alam, 31, also made key contributions.

But Harlow still managed to edge home as their overseas opener Ahmed Khawaja smashed 116.

That was despite the best efforts of Wickford bowlers Daniel Pryke (3-31) and Chirag Desai (3-37).

Westcliff were also left to reflect on what could have been after being beaten by 152 runs against Stanford le Hope at Chalkwell Park.

Having been put in to bat, Stanford made 264-7 in their 50 overs, with Ross Poulton top scoring with 89.

Lee Knight also made 53, while Jonathan Pratt (3-35) was the most dangerous Westcliff bowler before his side struggled with the bat and were all out for just 112.

Charlie Tredgold top-scored with 29, while it was Christo Otto who led the way for Stanford with the ball as he took three wickets for 30 runs.

Leigh on Sea were also celebrating as they beat bottom-of-the-table Hutton by 83 runs.

Leigh batted first and made 180, thanks to 75 from James Braithwaite and 40 from John Edwards.

But Hutton were then bowled out for just 97 in reply as skipper Sean Elliott took five wickets for 21 runs.

“It was a win we needed,” said Elliott. “Hopefully we can go on from here now.”

Struggling Horndon on the Hill were also beaten as they lost by 14 runs at Walthamstow.

Walthamstow made 217 in their innings before Horndon ended on 203-9.