SCORERS and bowlers had their work cut out at Brick House Farm where Burghill & Tillington and Bartestree & Lugwardine piled up 717 runs for the loss of just five wickets in one of the highest scoring Flint & Cook Marches League Division 1 games ever.

Batting first, the home side took advantage of some benign conditions to race to 382-3 from 45 overs.

New Zealander Alex Hedges led the way, crashing 11 sixes and 13 fours in his unbeaten 157, sharing in a second-wicket stand of 236 with Kingsley Morris whose 108 contained 11 fours and five sixes.

Dean Smith plugged away bravely in the face of the onslaught to return 2-74 but then enjoyed the conditions rather more when he had the chance to bat, stroking 23 fours and four sixes in an unbeaten 165.

Russell Barnett (52) and David Robinson (68 not out) joined him in century stands as Bartestree finished on 335-2.

Their allocation of overs was reduced, however, to 41 by a rain interruption with no equivalent reduction in the target so they may have had some cause to feel a little aggrieved that their run chase proved in vain, particularly as Burghill's total had been 322 after 41 overs.

Reigning champions Good-rich are now finding their feet and swept aside visiting Llandrindod Wells by 10 wickets.

Left-arm spinner Andy Russell proved irresistible for the South Herefordshire side, ripping through the visitors' batting with a spell of 7-15 from six overs as the Spa side subsided for 71.

With rain around, Goodrich wasted no time in hurrying to victory as Roger Lord (36 not out) and Sam Griffiths (32 not out) saw them home in just 10 overs.

Goodrich's single-run defeat at Builth Wells on the opening day of the season could yet prove crucial as the Welsh team continue to head the table after beating neighbouring rivals Talgarth by 131 runs.

The leaders' victory was based around an excellent all-round performance by Maritz Booysen who followed up an unbeaten century with a five-wicket haul.

Tim Richards (66) and Gerald Morgan (49) supported Booysen whose maiden century of 103 not out included five sixes and eight fours as Builth piled up 293-7.

Des Parry (63) and Ewan Cardwell (32) gave the Talgarth reply a good start and Mike Lewis chipped in with 26 but Booysen (5-47) and Jeff Carter (4-37) completed a good day for Builth.

Kington 3rd are also maintaining their challenge at the head of the table after beating Crickhowell by three wickets.

Sixteen-year-old John Williams (4-21) was backed up by the experienced pairing of David Gwynne (3-55) and Kevin Gwynne (3-62) as Crickhowell were dismissed for 206.

Then Stuart Mundy, at 17 a year senior to Williams, led the way with an unbeaten 63 as Kington, who had a further half-centurion in Chris Ball (52), eased home.

Garnons are also unbeaten after four matches and their latest success was a three-wicket victory against Leominster.

Russell Palmer (78) led the way as the town side compiled 178 but his team-mates struggled against the spin of Stuart Griffiths (6-47) and the seam-bowling of Jim Cotterell (2-23).

In reply, Garnons skipper Jon Andrews (76) and Sam Charles (32) set their side on the way to success with a good opening stand but Dave Barrington (5-30) stemmed the victory charge for a while until Andy Brace (26) came in to stiffen the middle-order.