THE Newham and Essex Beagles ladies made a slow start to the Southern Womens League season with a fifth-place finish in Worthing. Jo Smith did her best to push the Beagles up the points table with wins in the A hammer and discus, while also securing second in the B shot.

Fellow throwers Hayley Thomas and Adele Stach-Kevitz also did the business, Thomas winning in the B discuss, and securing second in both the A javelin and shot, while Stach-Kevitz won the B string hammer.

There was also excellent displays from 16-year-old sprinters Rochelle Jones and Lyanta Peters. Jones took first in the A 200m and finished second in the triple jump, while Peters was second in the A 100m.

Kelly Montgomery was also in good form with a win in the pole vault, a third in the triple jump and fourth in the 100m hurdles.