MONMOUTH increased their stranglehold on Division 1 of the Flint & Cook Marches League when they were recorded their eighth straight win, beating Canon Frome by 78 runs while nearest rivals Talgarth toppled to their second defeat at Wormelow.

The Monmouth batsmen took full advantage of some sloppy fielding by the home side - they dropped nine catches - to post a big total.

The in-form Gareth Hughes scored a breezy 51 and, with Wayne Etheridge (45) and David Teague (35) batting solidly, the visitors were in the driving seat at 144-3.

Ian Mackinlay departed for 45, leaving Jon Jones (53) and Paul Swingwood (17) to bat out the overs and finish on 250-4.

Jon Williams (2-59) was the pick of the home bowlers.

Chris Styles and Neil Andrews (19) gave the home innings a useful start with an opening partnership of 40 in 10 overs. But 40-0 soon became 51-3 before Andy Rogers (35) and Styles (53) got the innings back on track.

After both fell trying to increase the run rate, Richard Wood (26 not out) and Marcus Wrinch (17) held on for Canon Frome to preserve a couple of points by finishing on 175-8.

Swingwood and Mackinlay each took three wickets and Teague, two.

A century by skipper Glyn Harrhy was not enough to earn Talgarth success at Wormelow where the home side romped home by nine wickets.

Harrhy posted an unbeaten 107 as Talgarth compiled 201-4 from their 45 overs but his opposite number Chris Powell, opening the Wormelow batting in the absence of Jamie Langford, cracked an unbeaten 96 as the villagers eased home.

Burghill & Tillington kept the pressure on Talgarth with a comprehensive 127-run home win over Goodrich.

They battered 290-8 and then bowled out the visitors for 163 in 30 overs.

Nick Phelps and Clive Chadhani (45) performed a vital recovery when they shared a 92-run third-wicket partnership after coming together at 9-2. At this point Bruce Mandishona took a liking to the Goodrich attack and, in partnership with Phelps, took the score past 200.

He blasted eight fours and three big sixes in his 63 while Phelps, who hit 15 boundaries and three sixes, was out four runs short of a century, but the lower order kept the runs flowing.

Phelps (2-9), in partnership with Mark Preece (2-30), destroyed the Goodrich top order to leave them reeling at 29-5, including four catches for keeper Neil Box.

Eddie Pyatt (48) showed gritty determination and, with useful contributions from Mike Evans (28), Mark Bradford (24) and Rufus Davies (22), made the final score respectable.

Mike Pledge (4-36) did the damage in the second half of the innings.

Llandrindod Wells, who are still without a win this season, were pushed a further step nearer relegation when they went down by 50-runs at Glangrwyney who registered a second successive victory.