LONDON Road must have been sheltered from the elements last Saturday as the rain stayed away and Shipston's second string ended up both high and dry!

The Cotswold Hills League second division contest was the solitary fixture to escape the wet weather although the home side did have to rely on run rate to take a two-wicket win.

The visitors rattled up an impressive 200 before losing their last wicket but Shipston, despite losing overs and eight wickets, reached their target of 130 to snatch an unlikely success.

Busiest

In fact, the players of Cathe-rine-de-Barnes were the busiest on an afternoon when 17 matches failed to start as the club's sixth division second string had made 165-8 when the weather finally won the day in a mid-table clash with Kenil-worth Wardens.

Both teams earned bonus points for their efforts with Welford dropping a place after Kenilworth picked up four extra points.

Premier Division leaders Exhall and Wixford were the only top flight side to pick up a bonus point after Stephen Kerby bagged himself a couple of early Overbury wickets before the covers were back on the square.

Ebrington picked up a similar reward at Kineton in the first division, while only Shipston and Catherine-de-Barnes made headway in Division Two.

A couple of late results in the third division leave matters slightly confused with second-placed Great Alne maybe left cursing the rain as they faced the section's basement side.

The top of the table clash in Division Four saw Long Itchington pick up two early Leamington wickets to claim a one-point advantage on the day and trim the gap at the top.

Woodbourne's bowlers earned the Division Five leaders a boost with four wickets and a couple of bowling points at Elmley Castle who had stuttered to 61-4 when the umpires took the players from the field.

Exhall and Wixford can stretch their lead in the Premier Division on Saturday with a win at lowly neighbours Bid-ford, on an afternoon when, weather permitting, the next four sides in the table all face each other at the start of the second half of the season.

Overbury visit Moreton-in-Marsh, while reigning champions Stratford Bards make the short journey to Broadway.

Chipping Campden can do themselves and fellow title chasers Ashton and Catherine-de-Barnes a favour if they can halt the unbeaten march of Stratford in the second division.

The leading quartet in Division Five come face to face as leaders Woodbourne visit Dorridge and Temple Grafton play host to Ashton.

Suffering

Evesham, suffering from a 40-point deduction, can close the gap at the foot of Division Six if they can get the better of Claverdon who are 46 points better off in next to bottom spot.

Harvington need to beat Cookhill if they aren't to fall further adrift of the leading trio, while Welford's tumble down the table could take a turn for the better with victory at third-placed Fladbury.