IT was all change at the top of the Worcestershire County League this weekend after slip ups from high-flying Cookley and Hagley.

Worcester took full advantage of the results to pull themselves 16 points clear at the top of the Division One table following a tight six run win at home against Burghill.

Redditch climbed into second spot after chasing down the Hagley innings of 237 in a top four clash, Russell Southwick continued his fine form with 90 to guide the home team to victory by four wickets.

Bewdley returned to winning ways and remain in the race for the title after a comfortable 51 run win at home to Colwall. Rob Combes (87) and Michael Harris (52) set the Herefordshire men a stiff challenge that Jack Mills ensured was too many after picking up 4-50.

In other matches, Feckenham, thanks to an excellent 137 from William Davies overcame bottom club Droitwich, Eastnor, with Waqas Ahmed leading the way with 72 beat Stourport and last week’s joint leaders Cookley were dismissed for 111 at Pedmore after Dan Jones (76) and Dave Skelding (61) had put the home team in pole position.

The top four clubs were all victorious in Division Two this week. Leaders Bredon, thanks largely to a superb 151 from Martin Hill posted a big first innings total of 294 at the Kings School, which proved far too many for mid table Old Vigornians.

Second placed Evesham, had their bowling unit to thank as they shared the wickets to dismiss Lye for 91 which ensured a win by five wickets.

Bilal Hassan top scored with a fine undefeated 106 against Oldswinford and SS CC to ensure third placed Chaddesley Corbett also kept the heat on at the top with victory by 150 runs and despite 103 not out from Bromyard’s Greg Leighton, fourth placed Belbroughton overtook Bromyard’s 234 at Hackman’s Gate Lane to secure their outside chance of promotion.

Enville enjoyed a welcome win at home to bottom club Harborne as George Roberts (4-40) starred with the ball and Katie Parfitt held her nerve at the end of the innings to cling on to a one wicket win which saw them climb to sixth place. Wormelow pulled 23 points clear of the drop zone following a comprehensive seven wicket win against Coombs Wood.

In Division Three, the result of the day saw Five Ways Old Edwardians travel to run away leaders Kempsey and come away with a 24 run win. Dave Potter’s half century ensured the visitors modest first innings 217 was enough for victory as the Kempsey batsmen never really got going despite the best efforts of Gregory Cooke (55).

Second placed Himbleton took full advantage of the leaders slip up by comprehensively defeating Netherton by eight wickets, Sean Jenkins leading the way with an undefeated 57.

Rushwick’s excellent win against third placed Bartestree saw the gap to the top two increase to 46 points. Old Father Time Graham Davies led the home sides’ charge for victory with a steadying 61 not out to help his team climb out of the relegation zone.

Elsewhere, runs were aplenty as Alvechurch & Hopwood posted over 300 thanks to 133 from Edd Rogers to defeat Avoncroft (for whom Craig Hughes made an impressive 112 in response) and Astwood Bank led by Connor Adams 120 posted the highest 1st XI total of the day (333) to secure victory against lowly Himley. Malvern’s home win against Martley at Regency Road saw the visitors drop into the relegation zone.

Bromsgrove and Tenbury Wells remain the two to catch at the top of Division Four after both clubs secured comprehensive wins against the two bottom clubs, Old Elizabethans and Worcester. Relegation is now a real threat for the bottom two as victory by 3rd from bottom Hallow against mid table Kidderminster increased the gap to the relegation zone to a considerable 42 points.

In other matches William Barrell’s undefeated 95 ensured Hanley Castle & Upton kept up their bid for promotion by chasing down the Alveley total of 239 to win by two wickets, Will Rodenhurst scored 90 for Alveley. Claverley defeated Stourport on what looked to be a decent surface at the Old Elizabethan School and, in a low scoring match at Earls High School, Chris Jones (6-15) led Halesowen’s march up the table.

In Division Five, Barnt Green’s excellent form continued as they held their nerve to secure a tight four run win away at Harborne which increased their lead at the top to over 40 points as second placed Stourbridge, despite 81 from Jasper Davidson, lost to Redditch Entaco by 12 runs at Studley Sports & Social Club.

Elsewhere, Old Hill climbed into third place with a 15 runs home win over Romsley, Oldswinford & SS CC beat Pershore by seven wickets despite 81 from teenager Alistair Brown and Paul Lippetts’ 80 could not inspire Enville as Droitwich won the battle of the basement thanks to Callum Goddard’s 81.