ONCE again the Suffolk league cricket programme was decimated by the weekend's wet weather, with just one match reaching a conclusion on Saturday and one more on Sunday.

ONCE again the Suffolk league cricket programme was decimated by the weekend's wet weather, with just one match reaching a conclusion on Saturday and one more on Sunday.

The one game to finish on Saturday was at Yoxford, who are the only team in the Club Colours Suffolk Premier League to have completed every match in the first half of the season.

They bowled visitors Exning II out for 117 in 35 overs, then knocked off the runs for the loss of just two wickets in 11 overs to ensure the thunderstorms that were rolling around the Suffolk countryside did not stop them collecting maximum points.

Chris Bennett did the damage for Yoxford, grabbing five for 20 to bring the Exning innings to a swift conclusion, with Marcus Leggett top-scorer with 26.

After the early departure of both openers, James Alder (54 not out) and Damian Cialini (49 not out) hurried Yoxford to their seventh win of the season.

They gained ground on top pair Woolpit and Thurston as the top-of-the-table clash between the two was cancelled.

At the foot of the table there were hard-luck stories for the teams battling against relegation.

Stradbroke were the most unfortunate. They batted through their 45 overs to post 156 for nine, with the top four, Tim Courridge (34), skipper Alan Barker (32), David Allum (25) and Alex Fitchett (25) all making useful contributions.

Mark Rothon then ripped through the lower order to take six for 36 and the total was about par in tricky batting conditions.

In reply Liam Bryant (55) and Paddy Miller (23) started off well enough, but then wickets began to fall to Steve Warner (four for 25), Courridge (three for 32) and Joe Pearson (two for 26).

At 113 for nine and with the last pair together it seemed Stradbroke were set for their second win of the season - but then a heavy downpour halted play, and despite the efforts of the home groundstaff no further play was possible.

Bottom team Eye also had hopes of a rare win as they scored 180 for five in 45 overs (A Williamson 59, Stu Hill 55) but the rains came after 25 overs of the Elveden reply with the visitors on 59 for one.

Again, the requirement of scoring 122 from 20 overs with a wet outfield looked a tall order for the visitors but Eye were not given another chance to get through the overs.

Felixstowe Corinthians bowled out Melton St Audry's for 124 (Justin Cattermole 32, Julian Gibbs five for 24) in a match reduced to 35 overs, but heavy rain at tea flooded the wicket and the home side were not able to begin their reply.

It was the third time this season that there was a complete washout in the Suffolk Alliance - there was no play on Sundays May 13 or 27 either.