EIGHT wins from eight completed top flight matches have left Exhall and Wixford a massive 49 points clear in the Cotswold Hills League.

For once, though, the 2000 champions didn't have it all their own way last weekend and only picked up 17 points but that was sufficient to stretch their lead as their latest win came at the expense of their closest rivals Stratford Bards.

Exhall were restricted to 168-7 but when their prolific batsmen have a stutter then the bowlers come up trumps and Bards could only manage 115-8 in reply.

The battle for second place is hotting up with three points separating the trio of chasers after wins for Overbury and Shipston.

Steered

The former restricted Earlswood to 137-7 before 58 not out from Jon Gregory steered the 2004 champions to a six-wicket win.

Shipston, meanwhile, scraped home against relegation threatened Broadway who required 14 off the final over for victory.

They could only muster a couple as Dave Pyne's experience proved crucial after Dave Murphy's similar economy in mid-innings had seen two overs sent down at a cost of 14 runs as the visitors chased 151.

Murphy had earlier top scored with 37 to help rescue the London Roaders from a precarious 59-4 with Jamie Powell, Andy Beal and Greg Burrows all claiming two wickets.

Gary Betteridge's opening spell of 2-28 set the trend for the post-tea session when the dismissal of anchor man Kevin Holmes for 61 proved a turning point.

Alcester and Ragley, the only team not to lose to Exhall this summer and who face the leaders on Saturday, remain rooted at the bottom after managing just 99 in a five-wicket reverse against Tanworth.

It's all change in Division One where Wellesbourne's easy win over Henley and defeats for Bretforton and Norton Lindsey leave the Loxley Close side in top spot.

Winchcombe have moved into second after a seven-wicket win over Ebrington but it was at Ashton where the thrills and spills occurred.

The hosts were indebted to a club record stand for the tenth wicket of 64 between Will Archer and Guy Garland for a total of 186-9 that looked like proving more than enough when three of Norton Lindsey's top four batsmen were despatched for ducks.

However, Asim engaged in the rescue act but received little support and the chasers were all out 23 runs short of their target.

Captain Karl Shepherd took 4-29 while Archer completed a profitable afternoon with 3-25 to add to his unbeaten 38.

Ashton's second string met their match in Tanworth's Nelson who smashed an unbeaten 133 of his side's fifth division total of 206-3 and then took 5-24 and held on to two catches as the visitors were dismissed for 95.

Lifted

The win lifted Tanworth into fourth place but wins for the top trio leave Fladbury, nine-wicket winners at Kineton, in pole position ahead of other victors Mickleton and Ashorne.

Kineton's first team, though, replicated the second string's result but turned it on its head as they easily overcame Overbury's 109.

Wellesbourne also completed a double after a successful pursuit of Stanway's 243-8 left the winners second in Division Three just 16 behind Long Itchington who lost for a second successive Saturday - this time at promotion rivals Leaming-ton.

Woodbourne and Temple Grafton are a considerable distance ahead of their chasers at the top of Division Four after wins over Bards and Alcester and Ragley respectively.

Cookhill, meanwhile, lead Division Six by 42 points after a seven-wicket defeat of Claverdon.

The three teams immediately beneath them all won with Broad-way and Bretforton enjoying comfortable afternoons but it was a nervy ending for second-placed Blockley who almost came unstuck at basement side Welford.

The league newcomers were shot out for 108 on a tricky Synder Meadow surface but their bowlers hit back to leave Welford six short of a shock success when the last man was dismissed.