AFTER the previous week's washout, the battle for the Flint and Cook Marches League Division 1 crown got back on track on Saturday, but, with the top three sides all winning, the position is still delicately poised between Monmouth, Burghill & Tillington and Talgarth.

After their recent defeat by Burghill & Tillington, Monmouth returned to winning ways when they recorded an easy 105-run win at Glangrwyney. They bowled out the home team for 144 after posting 249-9 when they batted first.

Monmouth, missing several regulars, made light work on a pitch showing some variable bounce. Ian Morgan (36) and Bob Prewett (18) got away to a decent start, leaving Ian Mackinlay (49 including 10 boundaries) to control the middle of the innings. James Davies (24), Jag Saran (34) and Paul Swingwood (20 not out) gave the innings a final flourish, including 39 off the final five overs.

Swingwood snapped up the first six wickets for 39 runs when Glangrwyney batted to blow away their chances of winning and reduced them to 60-6 in the 19th over.

Huw Charrington put up some stiff resistance to reach 59 and give the home side at least respectability. Davies (2-12) and Mackinlay (2-32) eventually whittled out the tail in the 41st over.

For the third time this season, Burghill & Tillington got the better of local rivals Garnons, winning by 40 runs after bowling the visitors out for 224, chasing 264-6.

Clive Chadhani (53) and Nick Phelps got Burghill off to an excellent start, putting on 135 for the first wicket. Peter Bailey (22) gave Phelps useful support before the Kiwi was out three short of his century.

Kingsley Morris (34) and Mark Preece (23 not out) kept the runs flowing while Jon Andrews and Stuart Griffiths each picked up two wickets for the Garnons.

The visitors' innings got off to a poor start, losing skipper Andrews and Alan Jones early on. Sam Bendall (47) and, later, Ryan Grobler (49) tried to salvage the situation for the visitors but lacked support. Preece and Chadhani shared eight wickets for the winners.

Talgarth kept their hopes alive with a comfortable five-wicket win at Goodrich.

The home side batted first but were bowled out for 184, leaving Talgarth to stroll home with overs to spare.

Glen Reynolds bowled a miserly opening spell as Goodrich struggled to score at two runs an over in the first 18 overs. Phil Evans batted well for 52 and received good support from Roger Lord (25) and James Frecknall (16). The innings was given a late flourish by Rufus Davies, who was undefeated on 44 at the close of their 45 overs.

Goodrich were given some encouragement when they shifted dangerous pair Glyn Harrhy and Haydn Whiting early on, but Mark Waldeck (72 not out), Ewan Cardwell (37), Carl Lewis (19) and Chris Rayner (18) led Talgarth to victory.

In the other game, basement club Llandrindod Wells scored 187 but still went down to a comprehensive seven-wicket defeat against visiting Wormelow, with skipper Chris Powell scoring a century for the winners.

The Spa side slipped to 50-4 batting first in spite of R Edwards (15) and C Truelove (24) posting 28 for the first wicket.

M Evans (40 not out) and A Barker (60 including six fours and three sixes) added 92 for the fifth wicket before the last six wickets went down for 45 runs. Andrew Weston did the late damage, taking 4-39, with Clive Price and Ian Herbert sharing the first four to fall.

Wormelow recovered from the early loss of Shaun Waldron, blasting 177 for the second wicket in just 28 overs to set up victory before Powell, who included 11 fours and four sixes in his 104, was run out.

Herbert, whose unbeaten 68 contained 11 fours and a six, saw another wicket go down before completing the win in the 32nd over.