Gregory grabs glory to set up a crunch climax (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Gregory grabs glory to set up a crunch climax

OVERBURY will be crowned champions of the Cotswold Hills League if they defeat Exhall and Wixford on Saturday.

The new section leaders have a 14-point cushion ahead of their final match but they know that nothing other than victory will be enough to secure the club's first-ever championship.

Alcester and Ragley gave last weekend's hosts a tough test despite Overbury rattling up an impressive 215-5 an innings in which Jon Gregory (72) and Wayne Pearse (62) were the main run scorers

The Ragley Parkers produced a fine display with the bat and, at one stage, the match was finely balanced until Gregory was brought into the attack.

Lewis Clark (42) and Mark Fawthrop (62) led the chase but, when the latter was bowled by Gregory,the match was over as the Overbury all-rounder picked up five wickets in the space of three overs to finish with figures of 6-26 as Alcester closed on 178-8.

Exhall's trip to Lord's means that a win on Saturday will leave them in the comfortable position of just having to collect a few bonus points in their final rearranged fixture at Stratford Bards on Saturday, September 4.

Matt Pratt's last over heroics look to have sentenced Bidford to relegation after Shipston's remarkable win on the Big Meadow.

Pete Taylor top scored with 40 as the hosts could only muster 152-6 off their 45 overs but that looked more than enough when the London Road side had slipped to 52-5 and 104-7.

Taylor's 4-15 completed a fine all-round effort but, once he had finished his stint with the ball, Pratt and 16-year-old Ralph began the recovery.

A stand of 42 shifted the balance of power Ships-ton's way before Hard-wick's dismissal for 19 and a run-out left the chasers requiring six runs off seven deliveries.

Dave Pyne joined Pratt for his visit to the crease this summer and a boundary and a gleefully run two left Shipston victorious and Bidford totally deflated.

They were to become even more dispirited when news of Twyning's seven-run defeat of Broadway filtered through but Moreton's win at Wellesbourne means three teams face an agonising final afternoon when the bottom four, amazingly, face each other.

Wellesbourne entertain Bidford, while Twyning travel to Alcester, who need eight points to ensure safety, knowing that even a win might not safeguard against the drop.

Any one of three teams can still join Tanworth in gaining promotion from the first division with last weekend's results bringing defeats for the leading pair.

Champions Tanworth lost out at Norton Lindsey, while Henley's one-wicket reverse at Earlswood leaves those two clubs and Bretforton, who easily overcame Ebrington, fighting it out for the runners-up spot.

Narrow wins for Stratford and Ashton secured the pair promotion from Division Two with three wickets apiece for Sam Cope and Richard Cooper helping the latter to a 22-run win over Rowington.

Third-placed Shipston, meanwhile, could tie their match with Claverdon, while Exhall and Wixford's hopes of a quick return to Division Three were boosted by victory over Catherine-de-Barnes.

While Overbury's senior side faces a crunch clash in the top flight, the club's second string finds itself in a similar position in the final third division contest at Norton Lindsey.

The pair are separated by seven points at the top after both recorded comfortable wins ahead of a winner take all climax.

Long Itchington's one-wicket defeat against Bards handed the Division Four crown to Leami-ngton who had 153 runs to spare in a victory cruise at Alcester.

So, only pride will be at stake when the top two clash at Leamington this weekend.

An eight-wicket success for Broadway's second team at Ashton came too late to save the Snowshill Road side from relegation. They will be joined by Mickleton if their fellow Cots-wolders fail to dispose of Bret-forton in their final match.

Emphatic wins for both champions Woodbourne and Temple Grafton epitomised the ease with which the pair have secured promotion to Division Four.

Ashore were crowned champions of Division Six in far from satisfactory circumstances.

The section top dogs received 20 points after a walkover against Alvechurch, while Fladbury's match at Cookhill was abandoned - like the one at Welford - without a ball being bowled.