Leaders Stourport-on-Severn 1st XI extended their lead at the top of the Premier Division after gaining a maximum points win by four wickets against Brockhampton 1st XI at Walshes Farm Meadow. This win was enough to open up a thirty-nine pint gap at the top as second placed Stourbridge 1st XI for whom Maverick Perry (96*) top scored were forced to settle for a winning draw as Pershore 1st XI parked the bus in the second innings at the War Memorial Ground after rain reduced their second innings which ended with the visitors finishing over one hundred runs short of the target, six wickets down.

Elsewhere, third placed Old Hill 1st XI kept their feint hopes of the title alive by beating Astwood Bank 1st XI by two wickets at Haden Hill thanks largely to Zahid Kafiat (82*) who saw them home with an impressive second innings contribution.

Whilst at the lower end of the table Mohammed Adeel Sajid (92) returned to form to help Redditch 1st XI post a first innings total that proved too many for Bromyard 1st XI to chase at Flagonners Green, Old Elizabethans 1ts XI gained a winning draw against Droitwich Spa 1st XI at St. Peter’s Field and Ombersley 2nd XI secured an important maximum points win against Colwall 1st XI which means the bottom four (Bromyard 1st XI, Old Elizabethans 1st XI, Ombersley 2nd XI and Colwall 1st XI) are now fifty points adrift of the rest with just thirty-one points separating all four which suggest it is likely to be two from the bottom four who make the drop with seven matches to go.

In Division One Worcester Nomads 1st XI made the trip to Longmore to face leaders Chaddesley Corbett 1st XI and after a late scare when they lost three quick wickets at the end of their second innings, managed to cling on to seal a huge one wicket win which cuts the gap to the leaders to fourteen points and widened the gap to forty points to third placed Barnt Green 2nd XI who were forced to settle for a winning draw against Worcester 1st XI for whom Luke Deeprose (4-35 & 73*) produced a notable all-round performance.

Elsewhere in the division, fourth placed Coombs Wood 1st XI were also forced to settle for a winning draw as they failed to bowl out Kidderminster 2nd XI in the second innings who finished eight wickets down when time was called at Stewarts Road. Halesowen 2nd XI took full advantage of these results and drew themselves closer to the promotion chasing pack by picking up a four wicket win which saw them gain maximum points against Bewdley 1st XI at Seth Somers Park.

Whilst at the lower end of the table Pedmore 1st XI sealed a maximum points win against Hagley 1st XI and Oldswinford 1st XI beat Lye 1st XI who only have themselves to blame falling well out of the promotion race as they were once again bowled out with plenty of overs remaining, this time just fourteen runs short of a target which for the second week in a row looked very attainable with some responsible batting.

In Division Two, Bromsgrove 2nd XI continued to show the unpredictability of the division as they gained a maximum points winning draw against leaders Himley 2nd XI at St. Godwalds Park, a result that helped them narrow the gap at the top to just two points behind their opponents and also leap frog last weeks second placed team Burghill, Tillington & Weobley 1st XI who failed to take advantage of the leaders poor result as they were soundly beaten by Harborne 3rd XI after making the long trip to the Knotts Ground.

Elsewhere, Enville 1st XI beat Astwood Bank 2nd XI by two wickets at Sambourne Lane to move in to fourth position just twelve points off the promotion places. Alvechurch & Hopwood 1st XI are a further five points adrift in fifth after Ben Evans (6-32) helped them bowl Belbroughton 1st XI out in the second innings to seal a seventeen run win. Whilst at the lower end of the table, Cookley 1st XI earned a winning draw in a rain reduced second innings against Bredon 1st XI and Bartestree & Lugwardine 1st XI beat basement side Himbleton 1st XI by a wide margin which means that they are now forty points adrift of safety at the bottom of the table and need to find form quickly if they are to avoid the drop.

Netherton 1ST XI made the long trip to the Parks to play Brockhampton 2nd XI and walked away with a fairly comfortable four wicket win which opened up what should be an unassailable seventy-one point lead at the top of the Division Three table as their closest rivals Barnards Green 2nd XI lost to Old Vigornians 1st XI for whom Steve Campbell Ferguson (139) compiled a match winning first innings century to outpoint Max Middlebrooke (108) who scored a second innings century for the home team in a high scoring match at North End Lane. In other matches in the division, Avoncroft 1st XI took full advantage of Barnards Green 2nd XIs demise as Dan Elliott (88*) led his team to an eight wicket victory against Stourbridge 2nd XI, a result that lifted the East Worcestershire outfit in to second place, eight points clear of the Green.

Richard Gardiner (101) scored a second innings century for fourth placed Old Elizabethans 2nd XI at the Memorial Ground but it was only enough to earn his team a losing draw against visiting Feckenham 1st XI who had posted over three hundred in the first innings thanks largely to an excellent first innings century from Fraser Duggan (103). Stourbridge 2nd XI are next in fifth followed by Redditch 2nd XI for whom Waqas Ali outshone Yasaar Altaf (127) who scored a first innings century for the home team at their Bromsgrove Road ground by taking (10-50 - including a hat-trick) in the second innings against Coombs Wood 2nd XI which is the first time in the clubs one hundred and seventy four year history that an individual has taken all ten wickets in an innings, a superb performance and finally Alexander Basford (91) top scored for Martley 1st XI in an important maximum points win when his first innings contribution helped post a first innings total that proved too many for visiting Old Hill 2nd XI to chase at Jewry Field, a result that took them pout of the bottom two at the expense of Brockhampton 2nd XI.

After recording their tenth win of the season against Stourport-on-Severn 2nd XI at Highbridge Road, Netherton 2nd XI were able to extend their lead in Division Four to eighteen points over Claverley 1st XI who moved in to the second promotion position after enjoying a comfortable nine wicket victory against lowly Chaddesley Corbett 2nd XI (who failed to earn a point from the game) and then seeing that last weeks second placed team West Malvern 1st XI had been beaten by nine wickets against Lye 2nd XI who are now in fourth position just four points adrift of third and sixteen pints of the promotion places.

In other matches in the division, Romsley & Hunnington 1st XI beat Five Ways Old Edwardians 1st XI by a wide margin at the Masshouse to move in to mid division above Rushwick 1st XI who could only gain a winning draw against basement side Eastnor 1st XI at Clenchers Mill Lane after Ben Febery (100) posted a first innings century for the home side and finally Paul Heywood (72) and Luke Roberts (68) posted first innings half centuries for Worcester 2nd XI to set up an important maximum points winning draw against Bromsgrove 3rd XI at the Hedges Ground which helped them keep their chances of survival well and truly alive. With seven more matches to be played, two Win/Lose/Draw and five Win/Lose their remains a lot be played for at both ends of the table in all divisions which bodes well for an enthralling end of season run in as every team will know that now is the most important time of the season to find their best form.

In the Win/Lose format divisions, Barnt Green 3rd XI produced the result of the day when Dave Potter (96) helped them chase down Division Five leaders Droitwich Spa 2nd XIs first innings total for the loss of four wickets at Cherry Hill Road. This result, combined with victories for second placed Pershore 2nd XI who beat Astwood Bank 2nd XI by over one hundred runs at te Bottoms, third placed Worcester Nomads 2nd XI for whom Malcolm Jones (98) fell just two runs short of a first innings century in their victory against Oldswinford 2nd XI at Whitegates Farm and fourth placed Harborne 3rd XI who bowled Bewdley 2nd XI out cheaply to win by over fifty runs at Lower Park means the top four are now separated by just six points.

In other matches in the division Shane Abel (6-9) helped Malvern 1st XI bowl Hanley Castle & Upton 1st XI out cheaply to secure a ten wicket victory at the Ramblers Ground to stay in fifth with an outside chance of promotion and Pedmore 2nd XI lost to Colwall 2nd XI by two runs, a result that probably sees the end of their challenge for promotion this season. In Division Six Simon Burgess (188) struck what Graham Gooch would describe as a ‘daddy hundred’ in the first innings to ensure Hagley 2nd XI took full advantage of the untimely and unfortunate Cutnall Green 1st XI washout at Alveley 1st Xi by helping the leaders set a target that proved far too many for visiting Kidderminster 3rd XI too chase at Hagley Hall despite good contributions from Joseph Harrison 93 and Ian Smith 72 in the second innings for the visitors. These results helped Hagley 2nd XI to open up a forty six point gap over Cutnall Green 1st XI in second who are now just fourteen points clear of the chasing pack led by Enville 2nd XI who sit in third position after beating Belbroughton 2nd XI by five wickets at Enville Hall, Stourbridge 3rd XI for whom Mikesh Jivan-Patel (4-6) was the main protagonist in their home win against Kempsey 1st XI are just a further point adrift in fourth with Kidderminster 3rd XI the only other team in with a realistic chance of promotion a further six points back in fifth despite their defeat.

Elsewhere, Hugo Bernard-Pullen (4-28) helped Bromyard 2nd XI seal a comfortable win against Old Vigornians 2nd XI at the Kings School and bottom side Himley 3rd XI bowled Cleobury Mortimer 1st XI out cheaply in the first innings to set up a nine wicket win that pulls them closer to the pack at the bottom of the table with seven matches remaining. In Division Seven there are potentially six teams all with a chance of gaining promotion after most teams have shown they ae capable of beating each other in this division so far this season. Tenbury Wells 1st XI must still be favourites as they sit at the top of the division after Andrew Adams (107) scored a first innings century to set up a comfortable win against Oldswinford 2nd XI at Penlu. Burghill, Tillington & Weobley 2nd XI are next, as they kept up with the pace setters by comprehensively beating visiting Bromsgrove 4th XI thanks to healthy contributions from Denholm Smith (89) and Alex Powell (81) in the first innings and fifteen year old Ben Gillett (6-18) who celebrated his birthday by taking a six second innings wickets which included a hat-trick, happy birthday !

Claverley 1st XI sit just one point behind Burghill in third after they recorded their ninth win of the season against bottom of the table Ombersley 3rd XI. Bartestree & Lugwardine 2nd XI are next in fourth after they lost ground by being beaten at the Alf Tolley Memorial Ground by sixth placed Rushwick 2nd XI who kept their outside promotion chances alive with a tight two wicket win, whilst the team in fifth, Birlingham 1st XI easily chased down Stourport-on-Severn 3rd XIs first innings total t win by four wickets to keep their chances alive as they sit just twenty points off the promotion places, and finally Barnards Green 3rd XI made easy meat of Five Ways Old Edwardians 2nd XI to leap frog their opponents in to seventh place.

Harvington 1st XI continue to set the pace in Division Eight after recording their twelfth win of the season against Halesowen 4th XI at the Earls High School. Stuart Jarvis (107) ensured Romsley & Hunnington 2nd XI returned to winning ways by scoring a fine first innings century in a comprehensive win against Cookley 2nd XI and third placed Alvechurch & Hopwood 2nd XI swept aside Martley 2nd XI by one hundred and thirty runs to stay well in contention just two points adrift. It looks like it maybe two from the top three for promotion as they have now opened up a gap of twenty eight points over Halesowen 4th XI who are fourth. Old Elizabethans 3rd XI are fifth, still in with an outside chance thirty three points behind the promotion places after a strong all round performance from Jamie Reading-Widdett (4-14 & 65) ensured maximum points against Highley 1st XI. Stone 1st are next but to far back to mount a challenge despite chasing down Kidderminster 4th XIs first innings total for the loss of just three wickets, and finally Worcester 3rd XI beat Feckenham 2nd XI by one wicket at Mill Lane to move themselves out of the relegation places at the expense of Cookley 2nd XI and Highley 1st XI.

With five matches remaining in the Regional Division Nine Groups, Harborne 5th XI look nailed on favourites in Division Nine (North) to gain a home Quarter Final tie as they sit forty five points clear of the chasing pack after recording their twelfth victory of the season when they beat Alveley 2nd XI by eight wickets at Richmond Road. The race for the second play-off place remains intriguing as Droitwich Spa 4th XI currently lead the way in second after beating Enville 3rd XI by three wickets. Droitwich sit twelve points ahead of Netherton 3rd XI for whom Mark Buttery (137) scored a first innings century in an important win against Stourbridge 4th XI who slipped to fifth place as Himley 4th XI moved up a place after beating Oldswinford 3rd XI to move twenty seven places off the promotion places, and finally Bewdley 3rd XI beat Coombs Wood 3rd XI by twenty one runs in the battle of the basement.

Cookhill 1st XI sit at the summit of Division Nine (Central) after they recorded their twelfth and most important win of an excellent season so far when they beat second placed Droitwich Spa 3rd XI to open up a twenty-six point lead at the top. Harborne 6th XI are a further eleven points behind in third place after they beat Himbleton 2nd XI by a healthy margin. It looks like being two from the top three for the promotion places as in fourth place sit Redditch Entaco 3rd XI, forty four points off second position after James Prescott (122) fired a first innings century in a victory against Hagley 3rd XI whilst elsewhere in the division Avoncroft 2nd XI recorded a win against Old Elizabethans 4th XI at Neel Park and Chris Parkes (5-19) helped Chaddesley Corbett 3rd XI beat Astwood Bank 4th XI by eight wickets at Hanbury.

In Division Nine (South) things are very different as the top five at least will all think they have a chance of promotion if they find their form in the remaining five matches. Hallow Taverners 1st XI occupy top spot at present and continued to ensure they do so after posting over two hundred and fifty in the first innings which proved too many for Bromyard 3rd XI to chase. Bosbury 1st XI ensured they kept up with the pace setters by recoding a resounding ten wicket victory against Colwall 3rd XI at the Bosbury Oval where openers Mark Mucke (123*) and Alex Tyrer (73*) both remained undefeated to record a match winning second innings partnership of two hundred and twenty eight to seal maximum points. Kempsey 2nd XI remain just one point further back in third place after Muhammad Tahir Mirza (93) top scored in the first innings of a comprehensive win against Malvern 2nd XI at Plovers Rise whilst the other two teams in with a chance of promotion played each other and it was Brockhampton 3rd XI who came out on top by beating Bredon 2nd XI by thirty runs which leaves both teams with an outside chance of promotion twenty-seven and twenty-four points behind respectively, whilst in the other match in the division Andrew Price (84) made a healthy second innings contribution to help Eastnor 2nd XI beat West Malvern 2nd XI by five wickets.

Just one week of competition remains in the Regional Division Ten (Groups) with the majority of the play-off places already decided. The top two in Division Ten (North) are Lye 3rd XI and Pedmore 3rd XI but in what order they will finish remains to be decided as the top two are within one point of each other with Lye 3rd XI, who beat Stourbridge 5th XI by five wickets occupying top spot and Pedmore 3rd XI (who beat Belbroughton 3rd XI) just one point adrift in second. All will be answered on Saturday though as the top two meet in a final match that will determine who will receive the home tie in the Play Offs and who will not.

In the other match played in on Saturday Himley 5th XI beat Halesowen 5th XI by one wicket in a high scoring nail biting finish at Haybridge High School. Avoncroft 3rd XI sealed the Division Ten (East) title on Saturday when they recorded an eight wicket win against Feckenham 3rd XI which guarantees them a home play-off tie against the second placed finisher in the North Group (Lye 3rd XI or Pedmore 3rd XI, tbc). Second placed Old Halesonians 1st XI were guaranteed their play-off place when they were conceded to by Pedmore 4th XI who failed to raise a team, they will play the winner of the North Group (Lye 3rd XI or Pedmore 3rd XI, tbc) .

In the other two matches scheduled, Phil Smith (4-1) helped Cookhill 2nd XI beat Five Ways Old Edwardians 3rd XI by seven wickets and Sumaan Ahmed (107) scored a first innings century for Redditch Entaco 4th XI which helped them post too many for Halesowen 6th XI to chase in the second innings.

In Division Ten (South/East) Inkberrow 1st XI secured a well-earned home Play-Off fixture by beating Bredon 3rd XI by nine wickets. However, the second Play-Off place is still ‘up for grabs’ as Pershore 4th XI who beat Hanley Castle & Upton 2nd XI moved eleven points ahead of Droitwich Spa 5th XI who were beaten by Worcester 4th XI for whom Zac Goodman (106) compiled a first innings century. This all means that with one match left Droitwich Spa 5th XI entertain Harvington 2nd XI with nothing other than a win required and Pershore 4th XI, who may require nine points (depending on Net Run Rate), ten points to be sure of a Play-Off place welcome in form Worcester 4th XI to Spetchley Park with all still to play for.

In Division Ten (South/West) Group winners Worcester Nomads 3rd XI for whom sixteen year old Ben Mathews (116*) scored his first Senior century beat Brockhampton 4th XI, for whom twelve year old Griff Bubb (107) notched his first senior century in a thrilling match at the Stables. Second placed Tenbury Wells 2nd XI beat Rushwick 3rd XI for whom Andy Mason (83) top scored by two wickets at the Cinderella Ground and Malvern 3rd XI won by concession against Barnards Green 4th XI, which all means that with one match remaining in the Group Worcester Nomads 3rd XI will play either Pershore 4th XI or Droitwich Spa 5th XI at the Cinderella Ground in the Play Off Quarter-Finals and Tenbury Wells 2nd XI will make the trip to Inkberrow 1st XI.

The Division Ten Play-Off draw currently as it stands; QF 1; Lye CC 3rd XI or Pedmore CC 3rd XI v Old Halesonians CC 1st XI QF 2 ; Avoncroft CC 3rd XI v Lye CC 3rd XI or Pedmore CC 3rd XI QF 3; Inkberrow CC 1st XI v Tenbury Wells CC 2nd XI QF 4; Worcester Nomads CC 3rd XI v Pershore CC 4th XI or Droitwich Spa CC 5th XI All Quarter-Final matches shall take place on Saturday 6th August starting at 1:00pm with the winners progressing to the Semi-Final which will be played on Saturday 13th August, 1:00pm start as follows; SF 1; Winner of QF 1 v Winner of QF 2 SF 2; Winner of QF 3 v Winner of QF 4 The winners of the two Semi-Final matches will progress to the Final which shall be played at the Cinderella Ground in St. Johns Worcester – 1:00mpm start with Umpires appointed by the Worcestershire County League; Final; Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2 Stuart Lampitt