COLWALL have eased to the head of the Worcestershire County League Division One table after Tom Coleman's century guided them to a local derby win at Bromyard.

The Flaggoners Green club, who have been long-established in the top flight, might have appeared to be favourites against their newly-promoted rivals.

But Colwall's victory did not come as a huge surprise to Bromyard secretary Edd Oliver.

"They always seem to have been a bogy side to us over the years," he said.

"We had them in some trouble at 54-5 but Tom Coleman is a very good batsman.

"He gave a couple of half-chances but he batted extremely well.

"In our defence, I would say that the ball got very wet and, towards the end of the innings, it was like trying to bowl with a bar of soap."

Rain in the lead-up to the match might, in previous years, have threatened whether the game might go ahead but, although the match was reduced to 45 overs, there was never any real likelihood of play being called off.

"We got some extra covers during the winter and that certainly saved us," said Oliver.

Bromyard's efforts in getting the game on looked to have paid dividends in the early stages when overseas paceman Ahmed Jamal (4-46) cut through the Colwall top order.

The Pakistani fast bowler bowled his Colwall counterpart, South African Wehan Joubert and had Nick Panniers caught by Ashley Bullock, both for six.

He bowled former Colwall skipper James Abel for just a single and then Dan McKay was run out by Oliver before the visitors' current captain Dan Head was caught behind by Ian Bullock off Dave Taylor for 14.

"Jamal bowled some very good stuff and is quite sharp," said OIiver. "But Coleman saw him off and stopped the rot.

"Colwall were 64-5 off 20 overs so I'm not quite sure how we managed to let them get to 252, but Rory Jones came in and hit the ball very hard as well."

Jones (39), Ben Wheeler (15) and Max Backhouse (27) all gave valuable support to Coleman who compiled an accomplished 114.

To chase such a large total, Bromyard needed a good start but the hosts were quickly in trouble at 5-2.

Skipper Eral Anderson top-scored with 35 while Oliver (21) and Zahid Saeed (16) chipped in from the top order.

"But we were only 55-3 after 20 overs and so it was clear that we were going to struggle," said Oliver.

Ian Bullock (28) batted well again, after top-scoring the previous week, but Bromyard were all out for 182 as Joubert (3-16) impressed with the ball.

"He's a very decent left-arm spinner," said Oliver. "Even in these restricted overs matches he's only been going for around two an over.

"Our problem at the moment is that, while Ahmed Jamal is bowling well and Ian Bullock is batting well, no-one else seems to be in good nick.

"But we've got Droitwich and Evesham, who are the bottom two sides, in our next two matches and if we can win those then we will be back on track.

"It will be a competitive division, though. "Worcester Nomads, who have just come down, Colwall and Pershore are good sides and Pedmore and Hagley look useful, too.