A CONVINCING 10-wicket win in the National Village KnockOut Cup third round was the one bright spot in an otherwise barren Bank Holiday weekend for Cookley.

Cookley, who won the competition at Lord's in 1977, restricted home side Avoncroft to just 95-9 in a rain-reduced 35-over game after putting them into bat on a wet pitch.

Their stubborn display was thanks mainly to the accurate medium pace of Gary Mills(3-25) and Paul Harris (2-21).

In reply, Cookley knocked off the runs in 23.3 overs as skipper Phil Dixon followed up his half-century in the previous round with an unbeaten 45.

Paul Harris (40 not out) and Dixon had little trouble in reaching the target.

Avoncroft 95-9, Cookley 96-0.

But Cookley had to hang on for losing draws in both their Worcestershire League Division Two fixtures and are still to record their first win of the season in the competition.

The villagers were left clinging on at 93-7 after chasing Astwood Bank's big target of 203 at Lea Lane on Saturday.

Astwood Bank 203-7, Cookley 93-7.

Then on Monday Cookley fielded first and saw Feckenham piece together a daunting 260-plus target.

But they again held on for a losing draw with the last pair at the wicket.

Feckenham 263-9, Cookley 139-9.

The high-flying seconds did not fare any better and failed to pick up a win over the weekend.

They clinched a losing draw at Astwood Bank on Saturday after Mark Guest's excellent 6-46 had helped dismiss their opponents for 209.

Fellow bowler Simon Anderson weighed in with 3-74 but Cookley fell 41 runs short of the total with seven wickets in hand.

Phil Dixon (39), Gavin Brown (37 not out) and Paul Cartwright (35) all put together useful contributions with the bat.

Astwood Bank 2nds 209, Cookley 2nds 168-3.

Cookley seconds were then beaten by Feckenham at Lea Lane on Monday by four wickets with just two overs to spare.

Alan Pestridge blasted 51 runs in the home side's 196-8, aided by Ian Benbow (45), Mark Insull (42) and Adam Matthews (23).

But Feckenham's Reddish starred with 101 runs in reply though Cookley's Simon Kirby took 3-63.

Cookley 2nds 196-8, Feckenham 197-6.