IN Worcestershire County League Division One First XI the climax to the season looks like it’s going to be enthralling with nine teams have a realistic chance of qualifying for next season's County Premier Division.

Four teams are still in the fight for the title however Bewdley look unstoppable at the top at the moment and remain sixteen points clear of the chasing pack.

Bewdley completed a fine all round performance that secured an easy victory against Hagley at Hagley Park, Rob Combes scored an undefeated 131 which ensured the visitors posted a first innings total that proved far too many for the home side to chase.

Stourport kept up the pressure on the leaders as they gained an important win by thirty four runs in a tight encounter against third placed Evesham at Walshes Meadow.

Chaddesley Corbett did themselves no harm on Saturday as Bilal Hassan (93*) starred with the bat to lead his team home to victory against an out of form Worcester side to ensure they closed the gap to third place.

The top four are almost certain to qualify for the County Premier Division next season which means the chase for County League Premier Division status in 2019 is between Hagley in fifth, Colwall in sixth following a victory at Feckenham, Worcester in seventh and sliding and Worcester Nomads who are eighth and closing following another maximum point win against bottom of the table Cookley (Ollie Ranscombe scored 99 for Nomads in the first innings).

Just nineteen points covers fifth position to ninth and with many teams set to play each other in the remaining four matches.

In the other match at the foot of the table Burghill overcame Pedmore by ten runs but look too far away from the rest to mount a challenge.

Division Two First XI saw the lead change again as Coombs Wood were defeated by third placed Belbroughton who re-lit their title ambitions with a comfortable seven wicket victory which included 8-45 from Stuart Hawk.

Oldswinford moved to top with a three wicket away win against bottom of the table Kempsey.

Thirty points now separates the top three and it looks like the champions will come from these teams as Bromyard in fourth were beaten on the road again, this time at Droitwich Spa where Martyn Davies starred with bat and ball for the home team scoring a first innings century and returning 5-46 in the second to help his team climb into fifth.

Elsewhere, Enville leapfrogged Bredon in to sixth as Trevor Spears took 5-31 in the second innings at Enville Hall to bowl the visitors out for eighty-three and secure victory by eighty-five runs.

Alex Parker took 7-47 as Old Vigornians comfortably disposed of lowly Wormelow and Alastair Pretty continued his impressive season for Himbleton as he compiled a first innings 94 to help the home team post what proved to be a match winning score thanks to an excellent 7-65 with the ball from Rob Perrins in the second innings.

Lye Cricket Club are now just one win away from winning the Division Three First XI title following another comprehensive victory, this time at Eastnor where Nadeem Hussain (82) and Tanzeel Rehman (65) helped the visitors chase down the home team’s first innings 243 for the loss of just two wickets.

Rushwick regained second place following a seven wicket victory at home against Alvechurch, Harborne kept up the pressure in third and sit just six points behind as they beat Hanley Castle & Upton by one hundred runs despite 7-47 in the first innings from Hanley Castle's Tony Hutchings.

Netherton are now in fourth after their second defeat in a row saw them lose by 42 runs at the Masshouse against Five Ways for whom Sameer Khan returned figures of 5-42.

In other matches, Bromsgrove beat Alvechurch by nine runs to stay mid-table.

Division Four First XI looks like going right to the wire as the top three are separated by just eight points.

Last week's leaders Halesowen went down in flames at Hallow as Colin Stratford took a second innings 5-22 to secure a comfortable victory for the home team by one hundred and thirty five runs.

Second and third placed teams Romsley and Astwood Bank both recorded victories to leapfrog Halesowen into top and second place respectively.

Romsley secured a maximum points win at Himley after batting first and posting a total that proved too many for the home side to chase, whilst Astwood Bank lost the toss and found themselves in the field.

They secured maximum points as Paul Boycott took 5-51 to help restrict the bottom side Stourport to 178-8 (Jim Cook 80*) before the visitors knocked the runs off for the loss of two wickets to secure an eight wicket win.

In other matches Edward Lewis (101) helped Claverley post a first innings total of 265-7 at West Malvern which proved too many for the home team to chase but the visitors could not bowl the home team out as Adrian Walker and Matt Penkoks both scored half centuries to frustrate the visitors who had to settle for a winning draw.

Alveley also had to settle for a winning draw against Kidderminster as they posted a first innings 257-7 which the visitors failed to reach and ended on 228-8 and Tom Mason took a second innings 5-8 to seal a maximum points win for Tenbury against Stourbridge.