AN unexpected defeat for leaders Garnons at Builth Wells has tightened things up at the top of Division 1 of the Flint & Cook Marches League.

With defending champions Goodrich sweeping aside Bartestree & Lugwardine by nine wickets, the race for the title looks intriguing with four rounds of matches to go.

A fine innings of 125 not out from Tim Richards enabled Builth to post a challenging 243-5 after being invited to bat first by visiting Garnons.

And the total proved too much for the leaders as, despite an excellent 114 from skipper Jon Andrews, they were dismissed for 203 with Andrews' opposite number Nic Lee cleaning up the tail with 4-6.

Veteran Richard Fisher top-scored for Bartestree & Lugwardine with 21 but his resolve was not matched by his team-mates as only skipper Dave Robinson (16) and Ashley Woodman (13 not out) reached double figures as the visitors were shot out for 93 at Goodrich.

Goodrich experienced few difficulties in reply as Roger Lord (40 not out), assisted by Phil Evans (18 not out) and Sam Griffiths (11), piloted the reigning champions home.

Kington 3rd strengthened their position in mid-table with a high-scoring three-wicket success at home to Talgarth.

The visitors' score of 255 was underpinned by Jason Curran's 64 with five other players getting beyond 20.

Kington made a shaky start to their reply with two wickets going down for 25 but Roger Jones (76) and Jim Lewis (63 not out) powered the border club to victory with more than three overs to spare.

Llandrindod Wells enjoyed an emphatic nine-wicket victory over Leominster in the battle between the bottom two clubs.

Leominster made a good start with the Palmer brothers, Russell (45) and Nick (23), putting 67 on the board for the first wicket in 12 overs.

After they were parted, however, only Nick Ashton (28) remained for long as Martyn Hurst (4-23) and Colin Jones (5-34) demolished the remainder of the batting.

Hurst was also in good form with the bat, scoring 60 in an opening stand of 112 with Robin Edwards (41 not out) which took the Spa side to the brink of victory.

Crickhowell were unable to raise a side for their scheduled trip to Burghill & Tillington.