SOUTHEND AC battled back into contention in the British Athletics League after a third-placed finish in the second round of the competition in Chelmsford.

The senior men’s team finished third after a difficult opening round in Cornwall, with Southend now sitting sixth in the eight team league.

And Team Manager Keith Palmer was delighted with his team’s efforts.

“This was more like it,” he said. “We showed what we really can do and a good result in match three on July 2 at Bournemouth and we're right back in the mix.”

Billy Praim Singh once again smashed his personal best and the club record, winning the A string Hammer aged 16, with Jake Allen also a winner.

Kevin Brown was back in the 14's again in the triple jump and there was a sub 49 second debut from Will Snook in the 400m, and a sub 48 second last leg in the 4x4 relay. Lee Dollard, Connor Oliver and Lee Taylor also secured PBs.

International Adam Hickey finished first in the 800m, 1500m and 5000m and there was a strong front run by Rhys Gillard in the steeple chase.

There were good runs by hurdlers Graham Eastty and Greg Goodrem while vaulters Rob Wood and Perry Osborne gained second place finishes

Emmanuel Gbegli won the B-string triple jump and the club’s youngest member Toby Wright had a debut to remembers (second in 1500 B).

There was a 5k PB by Oliver Kyriakides, Tom Gifford came first in the 800m A.

The match finished with a fantastic 4x4 relay with Kevin Brown (51.9), Connor Oliver (49.9), Tom Gifford (49.0) and Will Snook (47.4) finished second – the best result in the club's history (3:18.18s).