CRICKET: Thomas Mills are determined to complete a hat-trick of titles in the Medite Suffolk Alliance, but they had to work hard before securing their third win of the season on Sunday.

CRICKET

THOMAS Mills are determined to complete a hat-trick of titles in the Medite Suffolk Alliance, but they had to work hard before securing their third win of the season on Sunday.

Mallards had batted steadily to post a total of 145 for five (Adam Polley 45, Ivan Leggett 41).

In reply the reliable Alan Jeffery contributed 73, but wickets fell steadily and when he was out there was still some work to do.

Chris Beale proved to be the man for the occasion, scoring an unbeaten 18 to take his team home by one wicket.

Yoxford could prove to be the main challengers to the title-holders. They finished as runners-up in Section B last year, but scored an emphatic eight-wicket win over the team who beat them to the title, Coddenham &Grundisburgh, on Sunday.

Kevin Bloomfield scored 50 for Coddenham, but nobody else got very many and the final total of 126 did not look to be enough. So it proved as Nick Collins (44), Martin Trimby (35 not out)and Spencer Chorlton (34) set up the win for Yoxford, who had six players under 20.

Elmsett put 128 for nine on the board at tea against Holbrook in Section B. Then S Tampion added four wickets to his earlier top score of 27 to help bowl the visitors out for 76.

Nacton also scored their first win of the season, Dave Hogarty's 52 helping them to 150 for six and then Clive Nunn took four for 11 to dismiss British Telecom for 103.

AXA/DBSLlooked good value for their 99-run win away to Woodbridge II. Mike Higgs (62) and Clive Harris (61) sent them on their way to a prodigious total of 227 for four, and then RSmyth grabbed five for six in six overs to hold Woodbridge down to 128 for nine.

Earlier both Dave Scales and Asad Mir had scored half-centuries for Woodbridge.

Woodbridge had been unable to raise a team to visit neighbours Melton St Audry's IIon Saturday. It was the second week running that Melton were given a walk-over.

Ironically, that was the only result on Saturday as wet weather ruled out the rest of the day's programme.

Graham Denny (38) and JTumilty (23) helped Tattingstone IIIcontinue their winning ways in Section D.

This time AXA/DBSL IIwere the victims after being bowled out for 78 in reply to 121 for eight. KDonovan (four for eight) and Gordon Funnell (three for 11) were the main Tattingstone wicket-takers.

Felixstowe Corinthians IIwere indebted to Ally Williamson for their win over Stradbroke II. He top-scored with 45 out of a total of 155, supported by KBaker (43) and Dave Smith (39 not out).

Then Dave Allum (62) and Steve Warner (46) put Stradbroke on course for victory until Williamson intervened with the ball, grabbing a hat-trick to leave the visitors seven runs short.