LAST weekend's awful weather took a heavy toll on the local cricket programme.

Bretforton, Pershore and Evesham's second string were the only sides to defy the elements with the former the solitary club to record a victory in the Cotswold Hills League.

In fact, the match between the new Premier Division leaders and Broadway was the only one to even make a start!

The seven-wicket win for the Station Road hosts lifted them to the top of the division and left Broadway eight points adrift at the foot of the table after a third successive defeat.

Opener Gary Evans top scored with 66 and received fine support from brother Nigel (40) in the visiting side's 146-6.

Bretforton's target was reduced to 136 and Brett Woods helped build a solid platform with 44 at the top of the order.

However, it was a typically belligerent undefeated 69 from Paul Jones that blasted the home side to victory and a place at the top of the table.

Pershore's similar margin of victory at home to Chaddesley Corbett was one of only four matches last Saturday to reach a conclusion in all eight senior divisions of the Worcester-shire County League.

Only sterling work by Trevor Ridings and his intrepid team of helpers made The Bottoms fit for play and a 25-over contest ended in victory for Pershore and made all the hard work worthwhile.

Martin Johnson, Luke Dalley and Guy Muspratt were handed the job of restricting the visitors and they managed that in fine style as Chaddesley only mustered 123-8.

Johnson and Dalley both picked up a brace of wickets, while an improved display in the field brought about three runs-outs in the closing overs.

The match was in the balance as a strong home batting line-up began to totter with the loss of three wickets but Reuben Rivers-Smith and Lee Wilks provided the backbone for the triumphant reply.

The Kiwi defended carefully while waiting for anything loose that he proceeded to smash to the boundary, while his partner's unbeaten 26 made from just 15 balls was a crucial intervention.

The pair needed 56 runs off the last eight overs and only five were needed as Rivers-Smith belted 56 not out at better than a run a ball to steer Per-shore to victory.

All 24 matches in the top four divisions of the Birmingham and District Premier League were affected by the rain and half of the programme was totally lost.

Evesham's home game with Tam-worth was one of those abandoned without a ball being bowled.

The second team travelled to Wom-bourne where opening bowlers Will Bailey and James Cutler produced excellent stints to set up a comfortable success.

After a delayed start, a 35-overs-a-side contest finally got the go-ahead and winning the toss proved advantageous as Bailey (4-39) and Cutler (5-45) reduced the hosts to 24-5.

Spirited resistance from Priest (52no) rallied Wombourne to 84 all out but that proved an easy target for Eves-ham after Tom Paul smashed his way to a characteristic half-century is his side's six-wicket triumph.

It got even worse the next afternoon where all scheduled matches in the Worcestershire Clubs League and npower Village Cup were lost to the weather. However, both Bretforton and Pershore conceded their scheduled first division games handing six points to Kidderminster and Fecken-ham respectively.

Group matches in the Village Cup will now be played this weekend with the original venues switched.