NORTON Oakes moved into the leadership of Division One after a good win over Aston Hall at Oakes Park.

The visitors elected to bowl first and soon made inroads into the Norton defence with half the batsmen back into the pavilion with just 37 runs to show for their efforts.

Dave Furniss was in his usual resolute mood and he painstakingly compiled 37 runs in 117 balls to hold the innings together.

Youngster Dominic Sayles contributed 25 as the Norton innings closed at 138.

Aston skipper Carl Tiler bowled well taking five for 23.

Norton are making a determined effort to return to the Premier Division and their attack, spearheaded by Shaun Trower, blasted Aston's innings apart.

He and Lucas Hoogenboom had reduced Aston to 18 for 6 at one stage and the innings closed at 54, short by 82 runs.

Trower's great piece of bowling earned him 8 for 31.

DIVISION TWO
Coal Aston 161 for 8
Maltby 162 for 3

MALTBY showed further signs of improvement, beating Coal Aston by seven wickets at Stonelow.

Coal Aston were asked to defend first and the Maltby attack made quick inroads into the innings, the first four batsmen leaving with only nine runs scored between them.

Peter Millington (49) and Chris Timms (33) compiled a recovery to see the innings close at 161 for 8.

Maltby's opening strike bowlers Gary Mills took 4 for 43 and Talib Hussain claimed 4 for 39.

Salmon Butt scored an immaculate 84 not out and Kevin Green was with him at the close with 30 not out as Maltby reached their winning score.

DIVISION THREE
Aston Hall B 175 for 6
Norton Oakes B 101

ASTON Hall B gave their prospects of escaping relegation a shot in the arm by beating Norton Oakes B at Green Lane.

Aston posted a total of 175 for 6 in their innings, with skipper Malcolm Shaw opening with 27 and Andy Matthews leading the scorers with 54.

Aston contained Norton to 101 all out in their response.

Tim White took 3 for 20 and Barry Eastwood 3 for 12 for Aston

DIVISION FIVE
Maltby B 107 for 5
Oughtibridge B 103

AT Muglet Lane Oughtibridge were bowled out for 103, with David Lister hitting 37 and Benjamin Tyers 33.

Luke Aspey took 4 for 10 and Chris Loxton (3 for 30) and Liam Woodward (3 for 15) shared the other wickets to fall.

Guy Dickinson hit 28 as Maltby completed the victory by five wickets.