ASHBRITTLE began the defence of their title in the first division of the West Somerset Cricket League with a 139-run home win over Morebath.

Even though they have played only one match - they were awarded the points against no-show Bridgetown - they are up to fifth in the table.

Ashbrittle were all out for 306 against Morebath with Luke Williams being the batting star with 111 while Sam Shaikh scored 72. Toby Radford took 4-48 while Edward Wensley and Irindu Gallage both took two wickets.

Opener James Cary (43) top scored in Morebath’s 167 all out while R Embleton took 4-24, Oliver White 3-58 and Steve Grant 3-25.

Kilve are the early leaders of the division after they beat Over Stowey by six wickets - their third successive victory. Stowey were all out for 145 with Kieran Barrow hitting 70 and Sam Thomas (45). James Payne was Kilve’s star bowler with 7-25 while Jim Taylor took 2-23. The in-form Carl Clemenson steered Kilve to victory in the 36th over with an unbeaten 67.

Bagborough also won their third game - they are only two points behind Kilve - after they gained a three-wicket success at home to Winsford who, batting first, scored 227-9 with Henry Dunn (64) and Peter Govier (51) being their top scorers. Mathew Raffill snapped up 3-47.

Henry Strirzaker was still there at the close with 43 for Bagborough while Paul Yorke-Smith scored 41. Lawrence Priest took 4-43 and Andrew Blackmore 2-23.

Watchet maintained their good start to the season when they beat Bridgetown by 91 runs. Top order batsmen Matt Lovell (97 not out) and Alastair Harrison (86) were in good form as Watchet scored 304-6 in their 40 overs while Max Briggs took 2-53.

Ben Luxton (54) and Chris Wookey (59 not out) were Bridgetown’s main run-makers in a score of 213-9. Ben Robinson (3-50), Dom Bowden (2-43) and Eben Harding (2-33) were the main wicket-takers.

Brompton Ralph were bowled out for 100 when chasing East Huntspill’s 224-9 which included a knock of 52 by O Watt. R Chiplin took 3-30 and B Poole 3-35. Opener S Lake scored 50 for the losers while J Smith claimed 4-35 and Watt 3-16.

Crowcombe are setting the pace at the top of the second division after they beat Roadwater by three wickets at home. Roadwater made 182-9 with K Roberts tops with 34. A Fawden took 3-24, R Baker 2-33 and J Cornish 2-37.

S Ahmed steered Crowcombe to victory with a knock of 67 which included ten boundaries while Baker hit 22. L Gould took 4-32 and A Whitley 2-25.

Churchinford lost for the first time this season when they went down by four wickets away to Stoke St Mary. Churchinford won the toss and batted first, scoring 177-8 with openers Chris Roberts knocking 75 and Andrew Layard 28. Ben Gray took 3-15 and Oliver Squire 3-32.

Stoke reached their target in the 35th over with opener Dan Batchelor scoring 43 and Joseph Harding 42 not out. Kristian Morgan took 4-42.

Lydeard St Lawrence, who have now moved up to third in the table, pulled off an impressive win over Stogumber who were bowled out for 104. Lydeard knocked off the runs for the loss of only two wickets.

Crowcombe have a 24-point lead at the top but have played one more game than Churchinford and Lydeard.