ASHBRITTLE are the new champions of the first division in the West Somerset Cricket League after beating main rivals Crowcombe at home in their latest match.

Crowcombe had to win to stay in the championship race but fell 72 runs short of victory, leaving Ashbrittle in the clear at the top of the table - by 55 points.

Ashbrittle, runners-up last season, chose to bat first against Crowcombe and made 250-8 in their 40 overs with Callum Knight top scoring with 54, while Jake Sharland hit 39 and Steve Grant 33. A Fawden (2-49) and Jack Lewis (2-35) were Crowcombe’s most successful bowlers.

Crowcombe never seriously threatened to get the runs needed although they were 74-1 at one stage. Richard Baker scored 34, Will Ruell 30 and Sajid Ahmed 29. Ashbrittle’s bowling attack was led by Ollie White who took 4-47 and Will Barrington who snapped up 3-39.

Watchet, last summer’s winners, remain on course to finish runners-up after they also won by 71 runs at home to Bridgetown.

Watchet, put into bat, scored 263-7 in their allotted overs with Tom Sparks scoring 48, Alastair Harrison 47, Eben Harding 43 not out and Ryan Strong 34. Dan Phippen-Loan took 3-38.

Bridgetown were never in the hunt after losing their first wicket at 36 and were bowled out for 192 with Ryan Lobb-Loan top scoring with 37. Matt Lovell took the wickets of the top four batters, finishing with 4-39 while Toby Sawatski finished with figures of 3-29.

In the only other match in the top division, Bagborough scored more than 300 runs at Morebath but still lost by ten runs.

Batting first after winning the toss, Morebath scored 314-6 with R Bowden hitting 95, with nine fours and six sixes, while Dan Rottenbury made 54. Jake Bond took 2-49 and Henry Stirzaker 2-64.

Dan Rafill led the run-chase, hitting 102, which included 18 boundaries, while Jack Martin made 55. Bowden took 3-47 and Graham Turner 2-53.

Meanwhile, Stogumber and Stoke St Mary maintained their battle to win the second division, with Stogumber having a 39-point lead over their rivals but having played one more match.

Stogumber won by four wickets at home to Winsford who, batting first, scored 213-8 with Patrick Crane knocking 62 and Steve Kingdom 50 while Lu Laage, Nick Bennett and Peter Horton all picked up two wickets. D Godfrey was Stogumber’s batting star with 131 not out, while Andrew Blackmore and Duncan Westcott snapped up two wickets.

Stoke kept in touch with a 34-run home win over Cutcombe who were bowled out for 211 after their rivals had made 245-9 with Dan Callow scoring 50 and Callum Illman 43. Mark Matravers took 4-39 and also top scored with 61 for Stoke.

Lydeard St Lawrence won by five wickets against Churchinford who made 260-5 with Ali Layard being 115 not out while Mark Gabriel scored 58. Melvyn Gale took 3-61.

Lydeard’s top batters were Tom Meek (63 not out), Tom Westcott (58), Clayton Vellacott (55) and Mark Hannaford (46).

Results, Division One: Ashbrittle 250-8 (35), Crowcombe 179 (16); Morebath 314-6 (35), Bagborough 304 (16); Watchet 263-7 (35), Bridgetown 192 (16).

Division Two: Lydeard St Lawrence 264-5 (30), Churchinford 260-5 (15); Stogumber 217-6 (33), Winsford 213-8 (16); Stoke St Mary 245-9 (35), Cutcombe 211 (19).