Top Bermudian cricketer Noel Gibbons has had immediate success with his new club in England after leaving the Island last Thursday.

Just one day after signing on as the lone professional with Buckhurst in the Essex Colour Assembly league -- a move made possible by former West Indies Test opener Desmond Haynes -- the all-rounder quickly made his presence felt.

In his first game, against Hornchurch on Saturday, he showed his all-round ability, slamming 78 runs and then taking four wickets for 31 off 13 overs with three maidens.

Thanks to Gibbons, Buckhurst won by 58 runs. Scores: Buckhurst 219, Hornchurch 161.

On Sunday, rain prevented a result in a game against Brozbourne, but Gibbons still excelled by hammering an unbeaten 67 as his team reached 120 for three before play was stopped.

"It was a nice start during my first weekend with the club. I couldn't have asked for anything better,'' said a delighted Gibbons yesterday.

"The team looks to be quite good. It's still early in the season but the signs are promising so far. We are sixth in the table after six games and are hopeful of climbing higher in the league which has 28 teams.'' Gibbons, who had harsh words about the current standard of cricket in Bermuda before his departure last week, reckoned the Essex league was of a slightly higher calibre than the Birmingham Conference League in which he played as professional with Halesowen for three years until signing with Buckhurst.

Although banned from playing locally until next month, following a swearing incident last season, Gibbons trained regularly with Bailey's Bay prior to his trip to England.

Now he's looking forward to Buckhurst's next match on Saturday against Leigh Cricket Club, who will be spearheaded by former West Indies Test bowler Patrick Patterson.

"We are all looking forward to that match, it should prove to be a real thriller,'' said Gibbons.

Other well known cricketers playing in the league at nearby clubs include Alvin Greenidge of Barbados, Franklyn Rose of Jamaica who recently transferred from the Lancashire League, and Mark Harper, brother of the Guyana captain and former West Indies Test spinner Roger Harper.

Gibbons noted that the captain of the Sri Lanka Under-19 team was also playing with a club in the Essex league and he got chance to talk with the youngster over the weekend.

"Our conversation made me realise how far behind Bermuda is in terms of thinking positively when it comes to developing their young players.

"Here are Sri Lanka arranging for this young player to play and help further develop in another country like England at an early age while our administrators fail to help our youth,'' said Gibbons.

"Sri Lanka are like the West Indies. When they see talent in the making they send the players off to England to help them, but not Bermuda.

"We have some young players from Bermuda in England right now, but thanks largely to (former Bermuda coach) Doug Ferguson who lined things up for Clay Smith and Dean Minors -- and then it took the players themselves to get two more out here.'' Gibbons said that even at 22, Glenn Smith, the youngest of the Bermudians in England, might be too old to make County standard.

"It's a shame, these players and a few others showed a lot of potential about six years ago and should have been helped earlier than this,'' he stressed.

NOEL GIBBONS -- 78 runs and 4-31 on his Essex League debut