REIGNING Cotswold Hills League champions Stratford Bards appear determined to hang on to their title.

Having acquired the services of Solly Ndima and won their opening two matches, after the rain-interrupted start, the Alscot Park side showed their power last Saturday when Ndima cracked an unbeaten century.

Twyning's 182-6 proved no problem in overhauling and Bards had eight wickets and plenty of overs intact as they moved six points clear the summit of the Premier Division.

However, Moreton-in-Marsh are acclimatising well to their new surroundings and the Batsford Roaders made easy meat of chasing Alcester and Ragley's 160-6 to retain their undefeated start.

Ndima's former Wellesbourne teammates did his new side a favour when inflicting a first defeat of the season on Exhall and Wixford.

No favours

However, it was the visitors who did themselves no favours when dropping three catches as they attempted to defend a score of 175-7.

Stephen Kerby put Exhall in the driving seat with four cheap wickets after tea but a solid middle order and spilled chances saw Wellesbourne record a first win with three wickets and more than four overs to spare.

Smith (44), Anderson (30no) and Rothwell (16no and 2-25) proved the pick of the winning side.

Shipston crashed to a third successive defeat as Jamie Powell smashed nine 6s in a blistering knock of 89 that lifted Broadway to a daunting 250-6.

The all-rounder arrived at the crease with ten overs left and the hosts on 126-5. Powell's big hitting and solid support from Andy Beale (44no) all but doubled the total and left Shipston needing a good start to have any chance of victory.

That prospect was a hopeless one as they crawled to 42-4 after 18 overs as Powell, who conceded 18 runs in ten overs, and Rob Bruce (4-25) bowled superbly.

Julian Morris and Gary Betteridge stabilised the middle order and their efforts enabled Shipston to collect maximum batting points.

There was a close finish on the Big Meadow where unbeaten Overbury must have fancied their chances of a third win when chasing 129 to win at Bidford.

However, the visitors fell seven runs short to slip down to fifth one point adrift of Broadway who they entertain on Saturday.

Dave Bant was Bidford's hero after hitting an unbeaten 25 in adding 40 for the ninth wicket and then claiming four of the first five Overbury wickets to fall.

Henley and Earlswood have made a bright start in their bid to join the top flight in 2005.

The pair have both recorded three wins and are separated by a solitary point after Henley's four-wicket win at home to Ebrington and Earlswood's seven-wicket stroll at home to Norton Lindsey.

The section's most exciting finish was at Elmley Castle where the home side fell eight runs short of overhauling Bretforton's 227-4.

Pete Cross carried his bat for an unbeaten 104, while Paul Jones added 63 to the visiting side's impressive score.

Dave Wheatley (60) led Castle's response but only the Sheward brothers Craig (46) and Karl (29no) provided significant support as Craig Griffiths grabbed four wickets.

Bretforton completed a profitable day as the seconds skittled a depleted Elmley for 72 with Dale Boulton claiming three wickets for just two runs. The target was reached for the loss of just one wicket.

There was a tense finish at Claverdon where second division leaders Chipping Campden successfully defended a total of 179 as the hosts were all-out for 168.

Exhall and Shipston's second strings compensated for senior side shortcomings with wins over Wellesbourne and Rowington respectively.

Leaders Norton Lindsey and Over-bury's second teams did the same in Division Three with victories over Earlswood and Bearley.

Alcester and Ragley opening batsmen Weaver (70) and Hedges (91) added 151 to help their side amass 213-3 against Moreton. Bradley's 3-19 then helped restrict the visitors to 183-6.

Great Alne also returned to winning ways to move up to fourth two points adrift of Hockley Heath, 87-run victors over Harvington, who are in turn 31 points behind the leaders.

Lane was Heath's hero when scoring exactly half of his side's all-out total of 192. Harvington never got to grips with some fine bowling with Williams who claimed 4-16.

Fourth division leaders Long Itchi-ngton saw their lead cut by four points after they could only manage 18 points from a 72-run defeat of Eckington, while their closest rivals collected 22 after skittling Bidford for 44.

That wasn't the afternoon's lowest total as Broadway delight at a first team win was tempered somewhat when the second team could only muster a meagre 25 after Temple Grafton had rattled up an impressive 245-6 in their Division Five contest.

A single point separates the leading trio with Dorridge leading the way after a 21-run defeat of Henley, while chasers Ashton and Woodbourne both notched up comfortable victories.

It's a close-run thing at the summit of the sixth division where four points separate the top three.

Ashorne and Cookhill both had to many runs on the board for Catherine-de-Barnes and Claverdon respectively, while Fladbury continued their fine start with a four-wicket win at Harvington after being set 166 for victory.