MONMOUTH belatedly achieved their first victory of the season in the Crusader Worcestershire County League Division 2 when they returned with a five-wicket win from Belbroughton last Saturday.

But the Welshmen's season took a downward turn again on Monday when they lost by 29 runs in a low scoring match against visiting Oldswinford.

Excellent bowling by South African left-arm spinner Mark Temple, who took 6-72 from a 17-over stint, set up Monmouth's win at Belbroughton.

Temple received good support from Jonathan Roberts (3-72) and Aled Jones (1-34) while skipper Dan Head completed three stumpings as Belbroughton were dismissed for 215.

Temple then showed his versatility by opening the Monmouth batting and anchoring the reply with a 135-ball 38.

He shared in a third-wicket stand of 98 with Ian Mackinlay who peppered his aggressive 71 with 10 fours and four sixes as he reached his half-century in only 42 balls.

A quickfire 35, including three fours and two sixes, from Charlie Bye and a breezy unbeaten 27 from Head saw Monmouth home with three overs to spare.

On Monday, Monmouth paid the price for not finishing off Oldswinford after the visitors subsided to 97-9.

The unbroken stand of 31 put together by the last pair then proved crucial in the West Midlands side's narrow success.

Accurate bowling from Temple (2-30 in 16 overs), Roberts (2-18) and Jones (2-31) allied to some fine fielding appeared to have put Monmouth in a good position.

But Monmouth's reply was quickly in trouble at 3-2 and then 50-5 as they were dismissed for less than 100 for the fourth time in six league matches.

Only Mackinlay (30), Andrew Smith (17) and Paul Swingwood (12 not out) reached double figures.

James Sparey batted well for Luctonians but his unbeaten 96 was not rewarded with a victory as the Kingsland side went down by four wickets at home to Lye.

Sparey was assisted by Andy James (29) in a third-wicket stand of 70 after the first two wickets had gone down for 21 and there was further useful batting down the order from Dave Bottoms (29 not out) as the home side reached 196-6 from their 50 overs.

Lye also lost an early wicket in reply but, despite some accurate bowling by Ed Rollings, who returned 3-48 from 10.2 overs, the league leaders cruised to victory with more than 11 overs in hand.

On Monday, neither Luctonians, who were due to visit Alvechurch, nor Wormelow, who were scheduled to travel to Lye, made the journeys after the heavy weekend downpours which had curtailed Wormelow's home clash with Netherton on Saturday.

Matt Shaw contributed 90 as Wormelow reached 206 batting first but the visitors had reached 139 without loss, sufficient to earn the extra points for a winning draw, when the rain arrived.