THE rain played havoc with the second weekend of the Shepherd Neame cricket League season on Saturday, although in the end it was only four sides who saw their games completely washed out.

In the Premier League Wanstead remained second in the table despite picking up only five points from their match at Brentwood. But having picked up nine points from their drawn game with South Woodford, Gidea Park and Romford were able to open up a nine-point gap at the top.

Having lost their opening Division Two fixture at home to Walthamstow last weekend, Old Parkonians would have been frustrated to see their match at Leigh on Sea abandoned.

The result leaves the Oakfield Playingfield-based side third-from-bottom in the table, and a massive 25 points already behind league leaders Horndon-on-the-Hill.

Division Three pair Buckhurst Hill and Woodford Green disappointingly saw respective home fixtures against Harold Wood and Southend-on-Sea fall victim to the weather.

Hill convincingly beat rivals Epping last weekend and remain third in the table, although they are 16 points behind leaders Stanford-le-Hope.

Meanwhile Green, who were looking to bounce back to Division Two at the first attempt, have already seen their early plans scuppered after this latest setback followed the disappointing opening day defeat against at Stanford-le-Hope.