WOOLPIT swept aside the challenge of Melton St Audry's to maintain their push for promotion from the Club Colours Suffolk Premier League.Skipper Damon Large led the way with a fine 127 out of an imposing total of 264 for five, supported by four other scores over 20.

WOOLPIT swept aside the challenge of Melton St Audry's to maintain their push for promotion from the Club Colours Suffolk Premier League.

Skipper Damon Large led the way with a fine 127 out of an imposing total of 264 for five, supported by four other scores over 20.

Melton were never really in the hunt in reply, although Adrian Smith (74 not out) and Jez Brotherton (49 not out) took them to a respectable 190 for six with an unbroken seventh-wicket partnership.

Yoxford scored 249 at home to Woolpit on the opening day of the season - and lost by 47 runs.

On Saturday, they must have been a little worried when they only managed 189, with James Alder's 76 the backbone of the innings. But Ian Price wrecked the early part of the Thurston reply with four for 46, and with three wickets from Julian Emeny the visitors slumped to 157 for nine. A last-wicket rally added another 15, but the innings ended at 172 and a 17-run defeat. Richard Sadler (44) and Neil Baker (37) were Thurston's top scorers.

In Division Two, Earl Stonham have made a strong start and they made it three wins in a row at Stowupland.

S Edgar's 42 was the top score, but three other batsmen passed 20 in a total of 179 for seven. Trevor Scarlett (41), Shaun Langford (34) and M Rice (31) kept Stowupland in the race, but Jeff Lewis (five for 35) and John Humphreys (three for 32) combined to dismiss the home team for 164.

Needham Lions began their season with a five-wicket win at Nowton. Henry Desch's 37 was the best for Nowton, but they were dismissed in just 38 overs.

Simon Mortimer (71) and Rob Hill (38) gave the visitors a terrific start and they took advantage of their extra overs to win in the 50th over.