CRICKET: Yoxford stayed at the top of Section A of the Medite Suffolk Alliance with a cracking win over Melton St Audry's on Saturday.Paddy Steen (65) and Julian Emeny (22) staged a vital recovery after Jez Brotherton (five for 38) had reduced the visitors to 60 for six.

CRICKET

YOXFORD stayed at the top of Section A of the Medite Suffolk Alliance with a cracking win over Melton St Audry's on Saturday.

Paddy Steen (65) and Julian Emeny (22) staged a vital recovery after Jez Brotherton (five for 38) had reduced the visitors to 60 for six.

The final score was 154 for nine and then Steen (three for 26) and Matt Lincoln (four for 39) put St Audry's in similar trouble in their reply.

Then Brotherton came to the crease, and with support from Darren Wash (24) and Fred Stearn (13) he took the home side to the brink of victory, just failing to get the eight runs needed from the final over.

Brotherton ended on 45 not out with his team four runs short.

Coddenham & Grundisburgh won more easily at home to Sudbourne Hall, with Craig Bloomfield (76) setting up a winning total of 201 for seven. Mick Peck scored 75 in the Sudbourne reply of 120, with Tom Palmer taking four for 30 and Craig Bloomfield ending a good all-round day with three for 41.

Defending champions Thomas Mills suffered a setback in their bid for a third successive title when they lost by 24 runs at home to Bawdsey. Darren King's 51 pushed the Bawdsey total up to 120 for eight, then Andy Baker (three for 27) and Mike Rose (four for 17) combined to send the home side packing for 96.

Mallards beat Caribbeans in the battle of the bottom. Bill Stowe took four for 33 as Caribbeans were put out for 113 (Devon Ebanks 30), and Adam Polley (60 not out) and Ivan Leggett (34) set up Mallards first win of the season by seven wickets.

Melton St Audry's II made up for the first team's defeat of 24-hours earlier when they won by four runs at Nacton. Mick Utting's 52 helped the visitors to 137 for eight, and then Adrian Barker took five for 39 in the Nacton reply.

When Dave Hogarty (31) and Mick Stockwell (33) were batting together they looked like snatching victory, but Conrad Wright produced a good late spell of three for 26 to clinch the win.

Neil Clarke's 26 not out carried Elmsett to a five-wicket win at Holbrook, while BT won by three-wickets at home to Eye II.

Yoxford II lost for the second week running to drop from the top of Section C. Richard Fernley took five for 12 as Easton III dismissed the home side for 87, and Will Thomas (40 not out) and Tom Huggins (33) set up a seven-wicket win.

There were celebrations on the common as Southwold recorded their first win of the season against Worlingworth II.

Robert Sims was the match-winner, scoring 49 and taking four for 15 in the 64-run success for the seasiders.

Tattingstone III replaced Kesgrave II at the top of Section D after a 98-run win built around a total of 202 for five (Mel Phair 55, N Wallis 41, J Tumilty 41).

Castle have won five in a row in Section E, with A Leach (41 not out) helping them to 152 for six against East Bergholt III, who were all out for 124 in reply despite J Barran's unbeaten 74.