WHILE the chase for the Cotswold Hills League Premier Division title looks like a two-horse race, last weekend's first division results leaves eight of the 11 clubs in with a championship shout.

Bidford and Catherine-de-Barnes both suffered defeats, while Henley's loss at Wellesbourne was another to throw the division wide open.

Alcester and Ragley are in eighth spot after rattling up 283-3 against Bidford who replied gamely with 247-9.

Gary Strain struck a career-best 161, while Shaun Quirke was unbeaten on 79 at the close. Quirke then provided economy with the ball with a spell of 1-28 before Ben Lee ripped through the Bidford middle order when taking 3-47.

Adrift

The Ragley Parkers are only 21 points adrift of leaders Norton Lindsey who won at struggling Tywning by seven wickets.

Ashton's batsmen were also on song and a total of 261-4 including 104 from Paresh Patel and 59 from fellow opener Jason Haines, helped sentence Cather-ine-de-Barnes to a first defeat as the visitors could only muster 170-9.

Ebrington's season of strife continued after Claverdon's opening batsmen were the only ones needed in the middle in pursuit of the visiting side's total of 151.

While Shipston's senior team struggles in the top flight, the London Road club's second team top Division Two after defeating Norton Lindsey by 48 runs.

Stanway, though, have closed the gap at the summit to four points after overcoming Earlswood by 59 runs.

Woodbourne kept up the pressure with a narrow win at home to Wellesbourne, while Bearley were celebrating after a surprisingly easy first win of the season against Great Alne.

Fladbury extended their lead in Division Four to 34 points after getting the better of closest rivals Kenilworth Wardens by six wickets.

Owen Donovan was again the hero as he followed up his previous week's century with 3-25 as Wardens totalled 195-8.

He then led Fladbury's run chase that didn't start too convincingly but ended in style with Donovan hitting 89 not out and receiving solid support down the order from Revell (34) and Edwards (23no).

Harvington have moved up to second after picking up 20 points in a seven-wicket defeat of Twyning.

It looks like a two-horse race for the title in Division Five as last summer's promoted sides Cookhill and Blockley continue to set the pace.

Cookhill dismissed Mickleton for 101 in a six-wicket win, while Blockley's impressive 278-5 proved 116 too many for Ashton's second teamers.

Elmley Castle's batsmen regained pride after falling just 19 runs short of overhauling Claverdon's Division Six tally of 247-7.

Only 23 points separate the leading handful of sides after they all recorded victories although Bretforton and Alvechurch will have been relieved to have seen off valiant efforts from C-de-B and Broadway respectively.

The surprise result in the Premier Division was Overbury's failure to even pick up a bonus point at Tanworth where the hosts passed their target of 93 for the loss of one wicket.

Trimmed

Exhall's seven-wicket win at bottom of the table Broadway - Andy Marsh 5-23 - earned the winners 21 points and trimmed the gap at the top to a single point after their closest rivals' 20-point haul in a 51-run defeat of Earlswood.

Leaders Bretforton rattled up 256-4 with Stuart Berry leading the way with 112 not out. Jackson Long added 65 and then took three wickets - a feat repeated by Alex Evans.

Shipston have slipped into the bottom two after they were dismissed for 105 after Stratford Bards had scored 217-9, with Winchcombe moving out of the relegation area after scoring 232 against Moreton who replied gamely with 210-9.