LEADERS Monmouth remain on course for their first Flint & Cook Marches League Divi-sion 1 crown after a resounding 89-run win over reigning champions Goodrich at the Sports Ground.

Important contributions from Wayne Etheridge (37), Aled Jones (33) and opener Rob Prewett (26) helped Monmouth to reach a challenging 171-9 on a green pitch.

In fact, a 52-run fifth-wicket stand between top-scorer Etheridge and Jones resurrected the Welshmen's innings after they had collapsed from 41-0 to 93-5 in the 26th over.

Veteran bowler Don Wilmott (3-19) and teenager James Clements (3-45) impressed in the villagers' attack.

The hostile Jonathan Roberts promptly reduced Goodrich to 13-4 after just four overs and, despite resistance from Andy Evans (19), Clements (17) and Mike Evans (15), the visitors were shot out for 82 in the 26th over.

Roberts finished with 5-41, Alex Richards, 3-27, and David Cullen-Jones, 2-9, as Monmouth achieved their eighth successive league win.

Former champions Talgarth kept up their title challenge with a crushing 209-run triumph over a depleted Burghill & Tillington at the Mid Wales Hospital.

Opener Des Parry scored a sparkling 105 and all-rounder Neil Morris clubbed an explosive unbeaten 90 as second-placed Talgarth compiled a formidable 349-6.

Parry shared a first-wicket stand of 99 with skipper Gethin Evans (29) and a second-wicket partnership of 98 with Lee Pugh (29), but Talgarth piled on the agony for the Herefordshire side in the final 15 overs, caning 160 runs. Steve De-Souza was Burghill's most successful bowler, bagging 3-90 from 15 overs.

Zimbabwean Clive Chadhani gave Burghill a brisk start with a quick-fire 56 and, although Mark Preece hit 43, Glyn Harrhy (4-32) and Neil Morris (2-17) skittled out the visitors for 141 in 26 overs.

Struggling Crickhowell recorded a vital 66-run home win over lowly Llandrindod Wells in their battle to avoid the drop to Division 2.

The returning Ben Morgan (35) and skipper Jonathan Jeffries (33) got Crickhowell off to a flying start before Rees Morgan weighed in with 90 which guided the hosts to 244-4.

An opening stand of 94 in 22 overs from captain Robin Edwards (53) and Jason Appleby (46) put the Spa club in a promising position but the introduction of leg-spinner Matt Snead (3-16) slowed the visitors' progress and Llandrindod closed on 178-5.

Wormelow held their nerve to register a narrow nine-run win over Canon Frome in an exciting clash at Kennel Field.

Wormelow openers Shaun Waldron (58) and Bryan Pedersen (43) laid the foundations of the home side's 232-8, while Tim Boulter (41) also starred with the bat. Calvin Cottrell was the most successful bowler for Frome, bagging 4-70 from 15 overs.

Rob Mence led Frome's reply with 64, containing 10 fours and a six, and captain Andy Rogers struck nine boundaries in his 45, but the efforts of B Powell (3-40), Ollie Powell (2-58) and Clive Price (2-38) limited the visitors to 223-8.