DROPPED catches proved costly for Canon Frome as they went down by one wicket at home to Old Elizabethans in the Crusader Worcestershire League Division 4 South.

With the visitors chasing 154, they had already dropped top-scorer S May twice, but recovered to take the ninth wicket with seven runs still required.

They dropped the last man on 148 and the visitors edged home in the 46th over.

When Frome batted first, Dave Huckerby (43) and Dan Watkins (23) added 76 for the third wicket after the home side were reduced to 5-2.

Andy Rogers (30) took the score past three figures, and Louis Watkins (13) was adding useful late runs before becoming one of two costly run-outs in a tight game.

Canon Frome were all out for 153 with 15 precious balls to spare.

Elizabethans made an equally poor start, a wicket apiece for Chris Styles and Watkins leaving them at 10-2.

This brought in May to join C Hopwood (25). He had already taken 4-26 with the ball, and with the aid of a couple of lives, went on to make it a double with 71 runs at better than a run a ball.

Canon Frome looked out of it when the visitors reached 111-3, but after four wickets fell fort 21 runs, the result was in the balance.

Rogers (3-40) then took two wickets on 147 to set up a thrilling finish, Frome missing out on their chance of moving up the table.

After choosing to field first, Ross-on-Wye played second fiddle to home team Birlingham and were in dire trouble when the game was ended by rain.

Ross were then on 61-5 in the 27th over chasing the home side's 239-7. The result was a winning draw to the home side as more than 25 overs had been bowled in the second innings.

Birlingham made a fine start, Drake (37) and Jenkins (90) posting 149 for the first wicket on a damp- looking pitch.

Rob Kyle dismissed both players and Birlingham conceded late wickets as they looked to increase the tempo, including three in the final over, a run-out plus two stumpings for keeper Jeremy North off the bowling of Chris Gage (2-10) In contrast, Ross made a disastrous start to their innings and were 8-3 with three key batsmen dismissed.

Stuart Mair (28) and Chris Ball (14 no) added 40 for the fifth wicket, but it was the rain that put the visitors out of their misery. Run-rate calculations were barely necessary on a day when Ross were outplayed.