MORE than half of last Saturday's scheduled Cotswold Hills League programme was wiped out by the inclement weather.

Only 14 of the 35 fixtures got under way, with run rate providing final results in the majority of these as interruptions again contrived to frustrate impatient players.

Calculators were needed at all but three venues where the respective winners all had something to brighten up a gloomy afternoon.

Ragley Park staged a top of the table clash in the first division with unbeaten Alcester and Ragley playing host to Earlswood and seeking to strengthen their grip at the summit.

However, minus a couple of key players, the hosts crashed to a 54-run defeat in a game reduced to 41 overs-per-side.

Costello proved the main thorn in Alcester's side with an innings of 77 that helped Earlswood reach 191-7. Extras was next best at 31!

The normally belligerent Shaun Quirke was shackled by the visiting attack and he and fellow opener Mark Woolley had only trimmed the target by 20 after 16 overs.

Pressure on the remaining batsmen proved too much with only Quirke (35) and Adam Devey (39) reaching double figures in an all-out reply of 137.

The losers, however, stay top by one point from their conquerors, who stand three ahead of Norton Lindsey who lost to Henley-in-Arden on run rate.

Great Alne had their bowlers to thank as they moved to the top of Division Four.

Rowington were dismissed for 98 and the hosts lost just one wicket in an emphatic reply.

The third team to achieve a result without taking run rate into account was Winchcombe, whose seven-wicket defeat of Hockley Heath was a first third division triumph of the season.

Reigning champions Shipston also benefited from the weather inspired by Dave Murphy and Jon Walker.

Both took three cheap wickets as Tanworth were restricted to 126-9 in 45 overs before Howard Bentham's unbeaten 45 hurried the London Roaders to a fine win.

Wellesbourne and Bidford were the other top flight sides to enjoy working out their targets.

The latter recorded a first win of the campaign at the expense of Broadway, who had reached 110-7 in reply to the home side's impressive 191-4.

Wellesbourne, meanwhile, rattled up the afternoon's biggest total and their 225-5 proved 28 too many than Kineton's revised target of 135.

It proved a good day for the Loxley Close club whose second team moved to the top of Division Two courtesy of victory at Stratford.

There was a welcome success for Bretforton, whose score just one below the 200-mark was more than sufficient to see off Winchcombe's challenge.

It was a different story for the club's second string, which lies joint bottom of Division Four after a heavy defeat at Kenil-worth.

Wardens totalled 200 despite Adam Reeve taking 5-27 but all the home bowlers earned reward as Bretforton were skittled for a paltry 81 in pursuit of 168 for victory.

FISSC have taken a 13-point lead in the third division after a reply of 119-6 proved good enough to secure victory after Norton Lindsey had been bowled out for 166.

Leamington's reign at the top of Division Five didn't last too long as both Moreton-in-Marsh and Long Itchington took advantage of the weather to leap into the top two slots.

New leaders Moreton inflicted more misery on Broadway's weekend of woe, while Long Itchington overcame Henley by six wickets.

There's no change in Division Six after all five matches were abandoned.