WATCHET have beaten Kilve in a top of the table clash in Division One of the West Somerset Cricket League.

But although they suffered their first defeat of the season, Kilve remain 16 points clear of their rivals who have a crucial game in hand.

Kilve, who lost the toss and were put into bat, made 154-7 in their 40 overs with Cris Taylor (33), Tom Wilcox (29) and Jay Darrell (27) being their main batters while Martin Strong took 3-11 and Callum Knight (2-23).

Watchet slumped to 15-3 before Alastair Harrison (68 not out) and Ryan Strong (24) came to the rescue with a 64-run stand. Wilcox took 2-34 and Rio Rock 2-17. It means, of course, Watchet remain unbeaten.

Champions Ashbrittle also maintained their unbeaten start to the season after beating Brompton Ralph by eight wickets. Brompton scored 168-7 with Will Ruell top scoring with 68 while Callum White took 3-32. Will Embleton (56) and Luke Williams (40 not out) led the run chase for last season's winners.

Bridgetown gained a five-wicket success against bottom side Winsford who are without a win this season. Batting first, Winsford scored 172 all out with Ryan Dean (47) and Andrew Blacklmore (38) being their main run-getters while Tom Gliddon took 3-38 and Chris Wookey 3-39. Dan Sizer, opening the Bridgetown innings, top scored with 40 while Wookey was 38 not out and B Luxton 32. Blackmore took 2-20 in nine overs.

Bagborough, in fourth place, slumped to a 77-run home loss against Morebath who, batting first, piled up 275-7 in their 40 overs. Chris Gale starred with the bat for Morebath, being 100 not out, his runs coming off 94 balls and included 14 fours and four sixes. Toby Radford made 33 and Josh Thorne 32 not out.

B Lock ( 55) top scored for Bagborough who were bowled out for 198 in 34-5 overs. Jed Glanvill made 31 and Paul York-Smith 30 while R Bowden took 4-23 and Joe Weeks 3-37.

East Huntspill close the gap to two points on Bagborough after winning by 40 runs in a low scoring game at Over Stowey. Huntspill, batting first, made 116 all out with Matt Edwards scoring 25 and Will Fear 23. Darren Langlois snapped up 6-18 for Stowey while James Swales took 2-27.

After a bright 39-run opening stand by Swales (27) and Ben Washer (18), Stowey were dismissed for 76 in 22-4 overs. Jason Smith took 5-25 and Andrew Chedzey 4-13.

Meanwhile, Lydeard St Lawrence kept up the pressure at the top of the second division with a splendid nine-wicket win over Stoke St Mary who, batting first, hit 287-3 with fine knocks by Daniel Batchelor (78), George Johnston (81), R Kingston (61 not out) and Joseph Harding (42 not out).

In a master-class of batting, Tom Westcott was 139 not out for Lydeard while Mark Hannaford hit an unbeaten 109.

Churchinford suffered their fifth defeat of the season when they went down to a three-wicket loss against Roadwater in another high-scoring game.

Kalann Nessling (68) and Ali Layard (60) were both in good form for Churchinford who were all out for 244 with Mark Bolland taking 4-37 and Caleb Laney 3-49.

Star of Roadwater’s reply was Ross Cornish who hammered 133 not out off 81 balls, with 11 fours and six sixes. Opener Mark Bolton scored 60 while Layard finished with figures of 5-67.