Report submitted by Worcestershire County League

For the third straight week the recent heavy rain and wet conditions played a huge part in reducing the amount of matches being played across all divisions. In the top five divisions just thirteen of the scheduled thirty matches (43%) produced positive results.

In the Premier Division leaders Stourbridge had Captain Josh Banks (59*) to thank as his undefeated second innings half century led his side to what in the end proved to be a comfortable four wicket victory against Redditch at the War Memorial Ground after being (58-4) at one stage in the second innings.

This win keeps the Glassboys fifteen points clear of Stourport-on-Severn who climbed into second after Craig Wood (72) and Ryan Derrick (4-11) both provided telling contributions to help seal a seventy-six run maximum points win against Old Elizabethans for who Taylor Pugh (6-39) recorded excellent first innings figures.

With the matches between Bromyard and Astwood Bank and Old Hill and Brockhampton both abandoned without a ball being bowled, the only other matches to reach a conclusion were played at Lower Park where visiting Colwall got the better of home side Bewdley who will have been disappointed to lose a low scoring match after Grant Morris (4-32) had help skittle the visitors for just one hundred and fifteen in the first innings and at Norton Barracks where visitors Pershore recorded a maximum point winning draw against Worcester thanks to quickfire half centuries from Paddy Thompson (59) and Charlie Norton (57) ensured their first innings total was out of reach for the home team.

In Division One only two matches reached conclusion. Belbroughton climbed out of the bottom as Robert Lee (6-30) and Jon Hawk 4-34 dismissed visitors Feckenham cheaply in the second innings to claim their first maximum points win of the season and Chaddesley Corbett moved into mid division after beating Hagley by five wickets after winning the toss and bowling first at Hagley Park.

Division Two provided a similar story with only two matches reaching a conclusion. Daniel Jeavons (6-14) and Oliver Siviter (4-22) made sure Himley 2nd XI took full advantage of their fortune as they skittled visiting Kidderminster 2nd XI for a low second innings total to earn a maximum-points win after Alex Rennie (6-45) had restricted the home team to a gettable for innings total and Cookley 1st XI got the better of a rain reduced match against Halesowen 2nd XI to earn a winning draw.

In Division Three leaders Alvechurch & Hopwood will be feeling on top of the world at the moment as they claimed their fourth win of the season by beating Harborne by six wickets at the Knotts Ground to move thirty six points clear at the summit in one of only three matches to beat the weather in the division.

Elsewhere, Old Hill 2nd XI beat Old Vigornians by thirteen runs at Kings Hawford despite the best efforts of Henry Armstrong (72) who scored an impressive second innings half century for the home team and Bartestree & Lugwardine climbed out of the bottom two by earning a winning draw against Martley in a low scoring match at the Jewry Field.

A similar pattern occurred in Division Four where two teams prospered while all of the other teams were left frustrated by the weather.

Leaders Netherton 2nd XI batted well in the first innings to ensure they earned a maximum points winning draw at Walshes Meadow against Stourport-on-Severn 2nd XI who finished well short of the first innings target to hang on to the losing draw points and excellent first innings bowling performances form Robert Crane (4-19) and Joe Smith (4-69) helped the visitors restrict home team Chaddesley Corbett 2nd XI to a gettable first innings target which thanks to Connor Franklin (51) they managed to pass for the loss of eight wickets and seal a win that helped them jump in to fourth place.

Al of the other four matches in the division were abandoned.