LEIGH on Sea picked up 25 points after beating Hornchurch Athletic by 37 runs at Chalkwell Park.

The victory saw Leigh move second in the Division Three standings.

And skipper James Spencer was thrilled with the win on a day which saw the wet weather stop several other sides playing.

“The win was so sweet,” said Spencer.

“Seeing the match abandonments coming in across the league meant we knew that 20 or 25 points would be priceless and we went and grabbed it with both hands, bowling them out inside 35 overs to gain maximum points.

“We were obviously concerned with the weather through the early stages of the morning.

“But thanks to all 22 players, the pitch was able to be played upon and we could have a result so a huge credit to Hornchurch Athletic for that.”

Leigh were put into bat after losing the toss and made 161/9.

Sevriano Cupido top scored with 52 while opener Spencer added an important 44 before Hornchurch were dismissed for 124.

Cupido led the way, taking six wickets for just 14 runs while Shaun Du Plessis took 2/31 to secure victory for Leigh.

And Spencer is happy to see his side move second in the table.

“What a feeling to be in the promotion spots at the half way stage,” said Spencer.

“The team ethic has been incredible.

“Our current position is no more than the players deserve and they’ve been incredible.

“Hopefully the results keep matching the players efforts in the back end of the season.”

In Division Four, Southend & EMT were also victorious as they saw off Walthamstow by eight runs.

Southend scored 137/8 with Kieran Butler hitting 54 and Chris Maher 30 before Walthamstow were bowled out for 129.

Chris Hunt (4/38), Alex Wainwright (3/20) and Adam Hunt (3/65) were all in the wickets to help Southend move seventh in the table.

And Southend skipper Joe Sibbons was delighted with the victory.

“I’m very pleased with this win,” said Sibbons.

“It is not often you defend 137 and it takes a real team effort.

“Our availability wasn’t the best this week but I was so pleased with the guys who came in for their first first team games of the season and everyone played their part in some way.

“I understand there was only five first team games completed in Essex this week with the weather around, so we knew it was always going to be a challenging pitch if we were to play. “

Southend are now seventh in the table and Sibbons is keen for the victory to be the start of more consistent form for his side.

"The season so far has been a real mixed bag," said Sibbons.

"There have been some great weeks like this one, some not so great, and the weather has not been kind to cricket so far this summer either.

"Consistency has been our real issue but this week proved the capability of our squad and should give us the confidence to reproduce performances like this for the rest of the season.

"It is an ongoing project to build up the squad, improve and prepare for a promotion challenge."

Elsewhere, the wet weather proved problematic.

In the Premier Division, second from bottom Hadleigh & Thundersley had their match at Chelmsford cancelled while, in Division One, second placed Billericay were not in action as their scheduled clash at Fives & Heronians did not get going.

In Division Three, Benfleet reached 39/1 before their clash at Wickford was abandoned. 

Wickford are sixth in the standings with Benfleet eighth.