Woodford Green's men’s team enjoyed mixed fortunes in their opening British Athletics League Premiership fixture.

Having finished third last season, a below-strength team placed fifth on the day with 265 points behind winners Shaftesbury, Sale, Newham and newly-promoted Enfield.

Woodford were boosted by good A team victories for Matt McLaughlin and Jordon Kirby-Polidore.

McLaughlin’s win came in the 800m where he led a fine tactical race from the front in 1.55.73, while Kirby-Polidore bounced back from finishing sixth in the 100m earlier in the day to win the 200m in 21.42.

One of several debutants, Jordan Donnelly was in the B 800m and also gained valuable points, placing second in 1.55.33.

The B 200m saw Nick Leveay return to competition from injury to cross the line in 22.41, which was enough for second.

Joseph Dewar, 17, led the long jump competition until the final round but had to settle for runner-up with his 7.07m effort.

In the B event, debutant Tshireletso Thalosang also came second with 6.74m and despite nursing a knee problem, later placed fifth in the triple jump with 14.33m.

That put Thalosang just ahead of training partner Peter Kirabo, whose 14.29m was third best.

Dewar was also in action on the track in the B 100m where he clocked 11.10 for fifth.

Matt Gunby, who has spent the last three years as an international triathlete, is focusing on running again and in his first track race in a long time, he just lost out in the A 5000m, clocking 14.43.50.

Bertie Powell, standing in for injured team-mates, placed sixth in the B event with 15.41.12.

In other track action, there were particularly good performances in the steeplechase as the ever-reliable Ryan McKinlay picked up another second place with 9.13.01.

In the B competition, Tom Beedell – recently awarded the Clubman of the Year trophy – set a new personal best of 9.22.97.

The 400m was less profitable but Sylvester Juwe in the A race started strongly and recorded 52.04 for eighth, while in the B event, Austin Joseph’s 50.51 saw him also finish eighth.

Club stalwart Francis Smith was elevated to A string 400m hurdles duty and was pleased with his 55.89 for sixth.

Smith also placed sixth in the 110m hurdles with 15.74.

In the B 400m hurdles, Sam Malekout stood in and gained unexpected points, coming fourth with 60.52 and he also took B string points in the high jump with 1.60m for eighth.

Also eighth was James Wright in the A high jump, clearing 1.70m, but Wright was unable to repeat his performance in the pole vault where he no-heighted. There were more points for Wright however in the 110m hurdles where he finished seventh with a time of 19.92.

Another ex-international decathlete, Paul Howard, was also called in unexpectedly and managed to come eighth with a height of 3.60m in the A competition. Howard also added points in the B javelin, throwing 47.70m for fourth.

Over 1500m two juniors, Ed Shepherd and James Stockings, performed admirably against more experienced athletes.

Shepherd crossed the line fifth in the A, stopping the clock on 3.59.20, while in the B race, Stockings came fourth with 4.00.04.

Back in the field, former UK number one Andy Frost placed third in the hammer with a throw of 67.54m and in the B, stand-in Peter Clarke finished fourth with 52.71m.

There were also useful discus points gained as Tom Norman ended up third in the A event with 55.42m, while in the B, Emeka Udechuku was second with 55.03m.

Competing as a guest in the same event, there was an encouraging 49.25m from Chris Linque.

The A javelin saw another Woodford debutant Paul Allsop pick up points as he came third with a distance of 59.59m.

In the shot, another two making their debut were Scot Lincoln, who came seventh in the A with 14.48m, and Youcef Zatat reached 13.93m with the senior implement for fifth in the B.

The relays proved problematic as Francis Smith stepped into the 4x100m after Dewar’s injury, and together with Kirby-Polidore, Omolulu Abiodun and Leavey, placed seventh with 43.08.

The 4x400m squad, which had been led off by Joseph and then Omolulu, Abiodun were unable to finish after Leavey’s injury 250m into the third leg.