LITTLE Waltham SC delivered a massive statement of intent to retain the Ridley League Dominoes Cup by walloping arch-rivals Margaretting Black Bull in a one-sided first-round clash.

Tom Kerr and Sue Steele got the Bull off to a bright start, beating Nev Raymond and Mick Rogers in the top pairs, but the visitors were overrun as their big rivals gained crushing revenge for their defeat in the season’s opening league fixture.

Last season’s beaten finalists Chelmsford Compasses failed to survive the first hurdle this time, going out to neighbours Red Beret.

Trailing 4-2, the visitors battled hard in the final series, but could not prevent the Beret picking up the deciding point. Bird in Hand were also on the wrong end of a beating, at the hands of Mill Green Cricketers.

Alan Readman and Margaret Rolfe (Bird) won the first game on the sheet, but that was the only home success, and the Cricketers, safely home after the second series, called it a day.

Dominoes Cup, 1st Rd: Bird in Hand 1, Cricketers 5; Lt Waltham SC 8. Black Bull 1; Red Beret 5, Compasses 4.

Fixtures (Jan 19): Black Bull v Chequers A, CCFC A v Compasses, Chequers B v Bird in Hand, Dog & Partridge v Red Beret, Lt Waltham SC v Cricketers.