REIGNING champions Ashbrittle suffered their first defeat of the season when they went down to current leaders Kilver in the first division of the West Somerset Cricket League.

Kilve bounced back from the previous week’s loss to Watchet to beat last season’s winners by a convincing seven wickets.

Put into bat, Ashbrittle were bowled out for only 130 in 35.2 overs with Steve Grant top scoring with 49 - and being one of only three batters to reach double figures. Tom Sherburn took 4-27 and Jay Darrell 3-19.

Kilve knocked off the runs in 25.3 overs with Sherburn (24 not out) and Jim Taylor (26 not out) steering them to a fine victory.

Watchet - with a game in hand on Kilve - kept up the pressure at the top of the table after hammering Bagborough by eight wickets.

Bagborough, who won the toss and chose to bat, were dismissed for only 79 with only three batters reaching double figures - Blake Jones (14), Paul Yorke-Smith (15) and Jed Glanvill (14).

Callum Knight was Watchet’s bowling star, snapping up 6-27 in nine overs while Ben Robinson took 2-17.

Watchet did not make the best of starts, losing two wickets for 18 runs before Tom Sparks (39 not out ) and Ryan Strong (23 not out) steadied the ship with an unbroken stand. David Stirzaker took 2-12.

Bridgetown kept in touch with the top teams after they gained a massive 188-run success against Over Stowey. Batting first after winning the toss, Bridgetown piled up 279-9 in their 40 overs while Stowey slumped to 91 all out in 21.2 overs.

Morebath won by 43 runs against Bromptom Ralph who scored 211 all out (37.1 overs) in answer to the home side’s 254-8.

Meanwhile Crowcombe won the top of the table clash by three wickets at home to Lydeard St Lawrence to extend their lead over their rivals.

Lydeard, put into bat, scored 206 all out in 39 overs with Tom Westcott scoring 57 and Josh Alford 54, while Tom Bennett and Tom Meek both hit 27. Matt Warne, Rob White, Adrian Fawden, Jalees Khattak and Jake Quick all took two wickets.

Will Ellis led the run-chase with 78, an innings which included five fours and six sixes, while Sajid Ahmed scored 44 and Jack Lewis 26. Victory enabled Crowcombe to go 72 points clear of Lydeard, who have a game in hand.

Sampford Arundel are in third place after they won by eight wickets against Stogumber who batted first and were shot out for 129. Such a target proved no problem for Sampford’s batters.

Vishnu Kombath scored 136 for Roadwater but still finished on the losing side against Stoke St Mary. Roadwater, put into bat, scored 252 all out in 40 overs with Ross Cornish scoring 35 and J Murch 31. Stoke’s leading wicket-taker was I Tier who took 4-25.

Stoke timed their reply to perfection, knocking off the runs with five balls to spare - thanks to George Johnston (51), J Harding (56) and Ashton Norie (77 not out).

Meanwhile, Ashbrittle will be looking to get back to winning form when they play away to Bridgetown on Saturday, July 5. Kilve play away to Morebath while Watchet entertain Brompton Ralph.

In Division Two, Crowcombe play at Roadwater while Lydeard St Lawrence are home to Stogumber.