THE Dukes League Cup is underway once again although it was not the start Southend & EMT, Old Southendian, Westcliff or Leigh-on-Sea would have wanted.

Division One’s Southend were beaten by five wickets by Hornchurch in the first round of the competition, with Southend all out in response to Hornchurch’s total of 22-5 from 45 overs.

Ollie Wagstaff (39) top scored for Southend but they could only reach 191 before they were all out, with Aarron Butcher (34) and Glen Norfolk (33) the only others to get into the thirties.

Division Three Westcliff were beaten by six wickets by Woodford Wells, who play two tiers higher, although Austin Holmes (72) and in particular Kamran Khan (62) helped the tally with the latter’s score coming from just 33 deliveries.

However Westcliff were all out for 192, as Woodford Wells passed the target for the loss of just four wickets.

It was a low scoring game between Leigh and Chelmsford, with Leigh failing to make an impression against the Premier Division side.

Dean Waller’s 25 was the best Leigh could must on the way to a meagre 84 all out in 34.1 overs, with Chelmsford losing just one man in their response.

Division Two newcomers Old Southendian couldn’t get the better of last year’s Division Two winners Fives & Heronians in 45 overs.

Fives made 216-5 but Old Southendian accrued just 184 for the loss of eight men in the same period, with Max Craddock (33) and David Johnson (35) top scoring.

Hadleigh & Thundersley secured one of the results of the weekend as they usurped Premier Division side Chingford with an impressive total of 245.

Adam Soilleux hit 64 and number nine batsman Richard Revell struck 48, with Chingford only able to make 181-7 in their 45 overs.

Wickford beat Harlow Town in a Division Two match-up, with Harlow making 181-9 in 45 overs, with Dan Pryke taking 2-8 in an impressive spell that included seven maidens in nine overs.

Dean Etchells hit 89 not out and Adam Deller an unbeaten 52 to help Wickford to 185-3 and victory.

Benfleet beat West Essex following a stunning bowling performance which saw their Division Three rivals reduced to 39-9.

Paul Frensham took 5-22, and Chris Coldicott 3-16 on their way to a comfortable win, with Benfleet surpassing the total in just 6.1 overs.