EARLSWOOD continue to find life in the Premier Division difficult after losing for the sixth successive week to Shipston by 108 runs.

Earlswood invited their visitors to bat first and were rewarded in the second over with the wicket of Gary Betteridge.

This was to be their only success for some time as Tom Wood (31) and in-form Julian Morris (88) added 124 runs in 24 overs.

Morris dominated the partnership and looked set for a well deserved hundred but was denied by a fine reaction catch by home skipper Snipe.

Morris and Wood had made batting look easier than perhaps it was as later batsmen were to find out.

Yates, Rice and Duffell made the ball seam about and, with occasional lift from a length, life was far from comfortable for the batsmen.

From 129-1, Shipston slumped to 142-5 and the 200 target which had looked a formality seemed less likely.

By the 36th over Shipston had been further reduced to 160-7, Yates having taken four wickets and Duffell a couple.

Howard Bentham (19), Dave Murphy (24) and Dave Pyne, however, guided Shipston past the 200 mark by the end of their allotted 45 overs.

Earlswood lost Nichols caught at slip by Andy Corby from Steve Righton's first delivery for the home side to make the worst of starts.

However, there then followed an amazing passage of play as firstly Wingatt (21) and then Snipe set about the Shipston attack racing to 51 in just seven overs.

It was not to last once Righton found the right line and length to bowl on the helpful wicket.

Wingatt was caught by Stock at point and Rice and Utting were both clean bowled with Righton now completely in control removing six of the first eight batsmen.

Pyne held on to a good catch to remove Branch for Righton's sixth victim of the day and his 300h league wicket.

Not to be kept out of the action the successful bowler caught Snipe for 40 at deep square left to reward Murphy with the first of four wickets as the home side were dismissed in just 24 overs for 101.