Bishop maintains his top form as leaders Bridgwater stay clear

Bridgwater maintained their unique record in this soggy summer of completing all their league fixtures to date to record a sixth win and they remain top of Premier One in the Globe Sports West of England Premier League.

Downend were their latest victims, falling by 142 runs at The Parks after winning the toss.

Skipper Matt Jackson (1-28 from ten) and brother Phil (2-38) helped restrict the home side to 131-5 before an unbroken stand of 102 between Jon Vickery (49) and former Somerset seamer Stefan Jones (47) boosted the total to 233-5.

Ian Bishop (4-14 from ten) then made early in-roads for Bridgwater with Jones and Mike Coles both claiming 2-13 as Downend folded to 91 all out, Adeel Hussain (30) top scoring.

Just one other match was completed in Premier One, Taunton St Andrews defeating Taunton Deane by 40 runs.

Saints were put in to bat by their rivals and reached 272-5 from 43 overs. Jacob Lintott was top scorer with 56 while Rob Contreras hit 45 not out towards the end of the innings.

Taunton Deane No 3 batsman Jack Leach amassed 96 runs in the reply, but no-one was able to stay with him long enough and they were bowled out for 232 from 40.1 overs. Lloyd Alley took 3-37.

Sam Trego made the most of a break in the weather to smash an unbeaten 160 and then claim 5-10 as Weston-super-Mare cruised to a 232-run home win over Chippenham in Premier Two.

Trego, the older brother of Somerset all-rounder Pete, totally dominated the Seasiders' total of 307-6, hitting 17 fours and 7 sixes off only 106 deliveries with Extras, on 39 (including 32 wides), the next highest scorer.

Chippenham, who won the toss, made a reasonable start in pursuit of such a challenging target but the dismissal of Uzi Qureshi, caught by Tom Main off brother Ben, sparked a collapse from 54-1 to 75 all out.

Trego was the chief destroyer in a spell of 7.3 overs, while Ashley Allen kept the pressure on at the other end with a return of 3-8 from only six overs.

The result moved Weston, relegated last summer, up to fourth with Chippenham still trapped in ninth place.

There was only one more result in this division, leaders Ashcott & Shapwick overcoming Glastonbury by 74 runs.

Opener Calum Haggett scored 83 as Ashcott & Shapwick reached 269-5 from their 50 overs.

Glastonbury had hope as Charlie Vickery built his innings of 76 from 116 balls but they were unable to sustain the chase and finished on 195 all out from 47.1 overs.

Newly-promoted Timsbury moved to the top of Bristol & North Somerset with a 71-run triumph at struggling Nailsea.

Andy Carter top scored for the village side with 70, Nick Jury and Liam Lester both claiming three wickets. And Gary Filer then bagged 3-19 as bottom side Nailsea, chasing a rain-reduced target, finished well shy.

The great majority of the league's remaining games were called off without a ball being bowled, but several starts were possible, including at Penpole Lane where Shirehampton hosted neighbours Twyford House. Shire were battling at 55-4 thanks to the efforts of Mark Fowler (2-13) and Tom Armfield (1-29, both from ten) when the weather made its final and decisive intervention.

In Glos & Wilts, newly promoted Chipping Sodbury recorded only their second win of the campaign, triumphing by 54 runs at Swindon.

Richard Howell, making his first appearance of the season, top scored with 51 while opener Bryan Jater contributed 48.

Swindon were then dismissed for 119 by former skipper Jamie Rendell (4-26), Jamie Wakefield (3-21) and Jon Toghill (2-35).

Cricket clubs were left counting the cost after wet weather once again decimated matches.

In the Bristol & District League just one first XI encounter was completed, Stothert & Pitt rushing out Briska for 58 in a Division Four clash ahead of securing an eight-wicket home triumph.

League secretary Tony Hitch said: "I've been secretary for 26 years and this has to be one of the worst summers that I can remember.

"I was surprised at how many games did manage to make a start . The rain on Saturday seemed to come at just the wrong time."

There is one small consolation, though, for clubs suffering a high number of cancellations.

Teams purchase league-prescribed match balls at the start of each campaign ... which will also be valid for next season.

Hitch added: "It's not a vast expense for clubs, but it's a little help for the finances. We all just hope that the weather improves some time soon."