Rayleigh'S first team recorded a narrow three-run win at home to Burnham Sport in Division One.

Jon Cook (58) and Danny White (49) top-scored for the hosts as they posted 206-8, before Cook took 5-58 as Burnham were bowled out for 203.

Rettendon defeated Canvey Island by 10 runs in a high scoring, hard-fought Division Two match that put the Rettendon hosts four points clear of their visitors following their first win of the season.

Rettendon were in trouble at 22-3 but Jon Roworth and Mark Everitt both scored 77 in a stand of 173 before Nick Hill’s quick 29 saw Rettendon post 252-8, while a fine spell of bowling saw Chris Foot take 5-52 and Ritchie Burrill 3-42.

Ross Casson (58) and Paul Ward (35) got Canvey off to a good start and despite wickets falling, the Islanders kept their run chase on track. But once Burrill (26) went the slipped behind and needed 17 off the final over before falling just short on 242-8 as Everitt claimed 4-55.

Southend & EMT scored their first Division Four win of the season with an 85-run win away to Stock II. Hawkins (87) and Winn (50) helped Southend to 212-7, despite Lindahahn’s 3-49.

Irvine (5-26) and Anderson (3-26) did the damage as only Cockley (47) prospered before Stock were bowled out for 127.

South Woodham Ferrers are level on 34 points with Southend after they suffered a six-wicket defeat away to early season leaders Willow Herbs. Severn took 7-26 as South Woodham were bowled out for 154 and Phillips hit 50 as the Blackmore-based hosts replied with 155-4.

Jason Ox’s 54 and Sanderson’s 42 for Rayleigh II was not enough to prevent a 38-run defeat against Purleigh in Division Five.

Cann (81no) and Freeguard (36) helped Purleigh to 264-5, with Ox taking 2-28).

But Purleigh bowled their visitors out for 226 as Taylor (3-41) and Yaffin (4-62) got among the wickets.

Ashingdon travelled to Woodham Mortimer and lost by eight wickets. After being bowled out for 79, Ashingdon saw their hosts reply with 80-2.

Rayleigh Fairview II secured their first Division Six win of the season as they defeated visitors Tillingham II by nine wickets.

Stu Warren’s 7-18 from 10.4 overs, four of them maidens, ensured Tillingham were all out for 85. And A Ames led the run chase with 54 as Fairview replied with 85-1.

Hockley II suffered a three-wicket defeat away to Bentley III. A Wilks hit 30 for the visitors, while G Larkin claimed 3-33 as Hockley reached 143-9. D Thompson took 3-32 but G Larkin’s 56 helped Bentley to a winning 145-7.

Billericay’s Bluehouse hosted Foulness but were defeated by eight wickets. Lovatt walloped an unbeaten 66 for Bluehouse as they made 161-7 despite T Nunn (2-30) and B Poxon (2-41).

But Adam Warner (72no) and Graham Smith (64no) saw Great Baddow-based Foulness to 162-2, with Viles taking 1-20.

St John’s Billericay went down by seven wickets to hosts Great Totham II. P Cox (39) and B Griffiths (31) provided most resistance as R Dickinson (2-33), L Jones (2-27) and M Simpson (2-39) helped restrict the visitors to 204 all out.

A Whiting (61no), K Mays (60) and B Gooch (54no) anchored the Totham reply of 205-3.

Canvey Island’s 2nd XI went down by six wickets at home to Writtle II in Division Seven. Matt Snowdon (86) and Neil Casson (37) laid the foundations but it was then tough going for the Islanders, who finished on 220-7 from their 45 overs. It proved to be insufficient as Writtle replied with 224-4 in the 42nd over.

Rayleigh III were unable to capitalise on their bowling performance as they slipped to a 16-run defeat against Rettendon II in Division Eight.

Richard Mantell (4-36), Paul Davis (3-39) and Adam Dudmish (3-40) had Rettendon out for 173. Having been in trouble at 66-6, Tony Snelling and Glenn Cook boosted the innings.

Richard Verrinder hit a battling 73 for Rayleigh and found support from his son Matt (17) and Darren Smith (21). But they were bowled out for 157 thanks to Marcus Plummer (4-35) and David Abre-hart (3-28) to leave Rettendon with their first league win of the season.

Rayleigh IV visited newly-promoted Wickham in Division 10 and found their hosts too hot to handle as they defeated Rayleigh by 139 runs. Matt Walker took 4-30 as Wickham were bowled out for 226 before Rayleigh collapsed to 87 all out.

Rayleigh V had to rely on two good partnerships at the tail to secure a two-wicket win away to Billericay St John’s II in Division 11. The visitors dropped six catches but still bowled their hosts out for 122.

But a defeat looked likely when Rayleigh’s reply stood at 40-6. However, opener Alan Brown (37) featured in a seventh and eighth wicket partnership with Jack Himfen-Jones (21) and Brian Dawbarn to see the fives to victory.