111

   109

    105

   92

Scott Spencer was the only home track winner, shrugging off an injury to take the 400m in 50.8s. He also ran well to claim second in a blanket finish in the B 200m and returned to run both relays.  In the 4x400m even the was moving into third place in the home straight when he was impeded badly by the Dartford anchor man, who was rightly disqualified. 

There was a stronger field event showing as Kevin Deacon & Joe Forde took an A & B hammer maximum, with Joe's 42.59m PB the 2nd best by a club u20, with the senior hammer.  The final win came when reliable veteran Stuart Tufton took the B vault points.

In front by up to ten points at midway, gaps in the steeplechase, 1500m and 110m hurdles took their toll.  The team also lost out when Matt Russell felt his hamstring twinge while warming up for the 100m, and took a late decision to withdraw as a precaution.

Sixteen-year old sprint star Eugene Ayanful came of age making his league debut in the sprints. Promoted to A string by Matt Russell's 100m withdrawal, he took full advantage against his senior opponents to place third and smash his 100m PB with a legal 11.1s to go to third on the club U17 all-time rankings. He also placed third in the 200m and ran the final leg in the sprint relay.

Team captain Mark Bishop led by example as always, competing with distinction in seven events contributing 24 points - over one-fifth of the team's tally. His best efforts came with runners up spots in both long jump, pole vault  & javelin. In the A javelin Sam Harrison again improved his best, finishing 2nd in 54.93m, just 20cms down on the winner.

There was an encouraging debut for Anthony Williams, also 16, who was second in both B high jump & long jump, the latter within 2cms of his best, and fourth in the A triple jump, plus a relay leg.

Gavin Maley was also busy, stepping into the breach in the B 100m, on his way down to the 800m start, in which he placed third and later was 2nd in the B 400m and also ran in the 4x400m relay.  Salvator Mutijima also saw track action, placing third in his 800m speciality, before earning a 1500m point and running a 4x400m relay leg. Phil Tierney was close to his best in the 400m hurdles, placing third and ran in both relays.

Danny Gamester competed in two events, despite again facing knee surgery. Unable to throw the hammer he nevertheless responded to the call to earn valuable shot and discus points, placing 2nd n both B strings.

Completing the squad were Trevor Keys and Tony Collins, fourth in the A & B 5000m, Scott Keating and debutant Bradley Parrott, also fourth in the high jump & triple jump respectively.

Team manager John Maley will be hoping to have a stronger squad at his disposal for the second round at Newham in four weeks (20 May).