STRATFORD Bards enjoyed a profitable weekend in terms of points and runs as the Cotswold Hills League emerged relatively unscathed from a showery Saturday.

The first team top the Premier Division after an 82-run defeat of Bidford, while the club's second string rattled up a massive 333-4 in the reverse third division fixture - a total that brought victory by 153 runs.

Overbury are the closest challengers to Bards in the top flight after an eventful victory over Broadway.

Calculators and paramedics were needed as the hosts won on faster scoring rate, replying with 118-4 in response to Broadway's all out score of 206 leaving Tim Morris's century all in vain.

Overbury's cause wasn't helped by the loss of Aussie amateur Brad Turner, who needed 16 stitches in a gashed knee after a collision with a sightscreen.

Reigning champions Shipston came a cropper as Kineton earned revenge for a final day defeat last August.

Accurate bowling from Brian Weston, Mike Bainton and Mike Briggs restricted Shipston to 175-7 before Bainton and Nick Briggs added 70 for the second wicket as the hosts passed three figures with ease.

Three dropped catches handicapped the champions and the experienced Terry Brown's unbeaten 34 steered Kineton to victory with a couple of overs to spare.

Shipston's second string featured in the day's best finish with a tie the result after Stratford's third team also scored 233 runs.

It was also tight at Tanworth-in-Arden who needed ten off the last over from Simon Holland to snatch a Premier Division victory.

Exhall were indebted to Martin Park (44no) and last man Jim Goldstraw for a partnership of 48 that lifted their total to 184-9.

Tanworth needed six off the final ball but could only manage a single.

One of the best bowling displays of the day came from Badsey's Emerson Paul, who took 6-20 as Catherine de Barnes were 131 all out in reply to their second division hosts score of 198.

Dave Martin top scored with 62, before Jamie Paul's early spell of 3-18 did the early damage finished off by his brother.

There were a couple of centuries in addition to Morris's effort. Rushton hit 111 as Norton Lindsey hammered 305-5 against Elmley Castle who replied gamely with 227-7.

James Algate was another ton-up star with a magnificent 113 not out, including six 6s and 16 4s in Leamington's 276-7 at Broadway.

The hosts were never in the game and lost their final wicket with the reply at 104 just before the heavens opened for the final time on what proved another frustrating afternoon at many venues.

Evesham's Sean Howard missed out on three figures by two runs in his side's Division Six run rate win over Clav-erdon, for whom Hammond smashed a quickfire 91.

The prolific Shaun Quirke seemed set for another century when slamming an undefeated 82 as Alcester and Ragley reached a winning 147-0 in the 28th over in reply to Rowing-ton's 214-7.

Anthony Clarke (88) was best with the bat in Bretforton's draw at home to Ashton.