YOXFORD enjoyed the benefits of covers and the work of groundsman John Trimby to record a convincing victory over Melton St Audry's in the only match to beat the wet weather in Division One of the Club Colours Suffolk Premier League.

YOXFORD enjoyed the benefits of covers and the work of groundsman John Trimby to record a convincing victory over Melton St Audry's in the only match to beat the wet weather in Division One of the Club Colours Suffolk Premier League.

Put in to bat in a match reduced to 30 overs per side, Yoxford got off to a quickfire start thanks to Australian pair Damian Cialini and Adam Dumesny.

The prolific Cialini scored 54 out of an opening stand of 109, and then Dumesney took centre stage with 11 fours and eight sixes in an innings of 116 for his maiden century. The final tally was 235 for six at nearly eight an over.

It was the third time in as many matches that a century had been scored against the St Audry's attack, although Jez Brotherton did take three for 45.

Julian Emeny (four for 17) and Ian Price (one for 17) then wrecked the St Audry's top order as the visitors slumped to 58 for six.

Then came a heartening partnership of 95 between Brotherton (66 not out) and 15-year-old Jack Lord (48) which gave St Audry's some encouragement, although the only doubt about the result was whether more rain set in.

Yoxford hurried through their overs and secured victory by 81 runs.

Two matches in Division Two also beat the weather - but in both cases the home team's reward for making play possible was to lose!

Stowupland batted first at Crowley Park and Trevor Scarlett's 77 helped them post a challenging total of 162 for eight in their 45 overs.

Shaun Dade (two for 17) and Paddy Stephens (none for 19) then produced tidy eight-over opening spells, and Shaun Langford followed up with four for 28 as Needham Lions were bowled out for 117, opener Rob Hill top-scoring with 34.

Worlington's Brian Cole (four for 20) and Steve Smith (two for 25) dismissed seven Great Yeldham batsmen for a total of just 20 runs between them, but opener Paul Andrianatos stood firm. He carried his bat for an unbeaten 68 in the 40-over innings and finally found a willing partner in Tony Mann (40 not out) to share an unbroken partnership that took the visitors' total to a healthy 143 for seven.

Philip Peachey gave Worlington a good start with 40, but then Stuart Coe got to work and collected five for 30. In a close finish Brian Cole (22) and Jeremy Bayes (32 not out) took Worlington to within six runs, but their last two batsmen were both given out lbw as the home reply ended at 137.

The rest of the programme, and all of Sunday's matches in Suffolk, were washed out as the long dry spell of April was replaced by squally showers in May.