WORMELOW took a big step forward in the intriguing battle for the Division 3 South title race in the Crusader Worcestershire County League.

While they were taking maximum points from a narrow 18-run win at Worcester Dominies & Guild, their closest rivals Monmouth were restricted to 10 points fewer at Himbleton from a rain-affected match where they were in total control. Wormelow now lead Monmouth by 24 points.

With Wormelow entertaining Monmouth this weekend, third-placed Colwall cannot be discounted. Their 24-point haul from a 113-run win at Old Elizabethans just about keeps them in contention if Wormelow blow up over their final two games. Colwall trail Wormelow by 31 points.

For the second successive week, young all-rounder Tim Boulter was Wormelow's batting hero with an undefeated 102 underpinning the villagers' total of 235-6 from a rain-restricted 40 overs at Worcester Dominies & Guild.

Boulter shared a fourth-wicket stand of 151 with Shaun Waldron (53) while opener Matt Shaw contributed 30.

In reply, Dominies seemed to have the Wormelow total comfortably within their sights with their top three N Price (66), L Gwynne (49) and C Miles (35) all batting well.

Wormelow continued to plug away, however, and Ian Herbert's 3-24, along with four run-outs, ensured that the home side finished just short.

Another crucial factor in the Wormelow win was that home bowler T Gwynne had to be taken to hospital after being hit on the head by a fierce return drive from Boulter and was unable to return to the ground to bat.

Monmouth recovered from a poor start to their innings at Himbleton to clock up 304-7 by the 47th over before rain intervened.

When play resumed the home team were never in contention when their innings was reduced to 38 overs, but they stifled Monmouth's chances of winning by comfortably batting out time at 135-6.

Charlie Bye (90) and David Teague (61) put Monmouth in control after O'Hara (2-15) had given them an early scare by reducing them to 17-2 after 10 overs.

Ian Mackinlay (39), Dan Head (31) and James Davies (23) kept the momentum going, and a late flourish of 14 from just three balls by Jonathan Roberts pushed the score past 300.

When the rain relented, steady bowling, backed up by some fine running catches, ensured the visitors were in the driving seat. Mackinlay took 4-36 off 12 overs but the other bowlers struggled to breakdown the resistance of the Himbleton batsmen.

After starting late in a game reduced to 86 overs, Colwall rattled up 250-4 in just 36 overs before declaring to give themselves 50 overs to bowl the home side, Old Elizabethans, out. They reached their goal in the 42nd over, taking the final wicket at 137.

Dave Powell (117 not out) and Nick Panniers (88) scored the bulk of the runs when Colwall batted first. Spinners Charlie Griffiths (4-42) and Mike King shared seven wickets, and received good support from Jordan Kontarines and Darren Cooke who scooped up the other three.

With two games left, Powell has a reasonable chance of completing 1,000 runs for the season. He is currently standing on 870 league runs, with four tons to his name and an average of over 100.