VIDEO: Leaders Down dish out first defeat to champions

They put the visitors in and restricted them to 208-8 as Leif Powis (49) and Stefan Gooch (48) were both denied fifties.

The chase did not prove easy but the efforts of Stuart Simmonds (53) and Dave Ward (48) finally earned a two-wicket win despite the best efforts of Josh Coburn (5-55).

Streat moved up to second place above the champions as Jules Hunt led to a 46-run victory at Balcombe. He top scored with 94 in their total of 228 and then took 6-36 as Adrian Ruzicka (63) and Guy Dutton (59) helped the hosts reply with 182 all out in the 44th over. Charlie Dowdall had to be the day’s unluckiest loser after taking 8-67 for the hosts.

Palmers were eight-wicket winners at home to Preston Nomads III after bowling them out for 80 and in the only other Division 1 match played, Tom Brookes (82) carried Poynings to a five-wicket win at home to Edenbridge.

There were plenty of changes in Division 2 after the latest round of fixtures, although East Grinstead III remain top after a 10-wicket demolition of visitors Hurstpierpoint, who could muster only 110-9 in their 47 overs despite Mike Thatcher hitting 49. Tim Wilson (57no) and Marcus Budgen (36no) then made light of that modest target.

It was suitably close as Dormansland leapfrogged Bolney into second place after beating them by three wickets but with only one ball to spare.

Rory Delves helped Bolney post a total of 182-8 before Michael Phillips (55) and Nick Hellier (49) took up the challenge.

Staplefield climbed from second bottom after taking full points at home to Smallfield. They won by six wickets despite Chris Glossop hitting 50 in a Smallfield total of 129.

Also making a big stride up the table were Chailey as Jeremy Blick (64no) and Peter Dembray (58no) led them to a nine-wicket win at home to Cuckfield III, who succumbed for 134 in the 47th over.

The other match was drawn as the last pair of Balcombe II denied Horsted Keynes.

Preston Nomads IV missed the chance to go top of Division 3 when they were held at home by East Grinstead IV.

In a close game, they made 169-6 before the visitors replied with 155-9.

Lindfield III leapfrogged Burgess Hill III into third place after winning an even tighter match. The visitors made 163-7 and then bowled out Hill for 161 with two balls left after Adam Booth (50) led the chase.

There were three five-wicket hauls as Roffey III (Jim Barnes 5-32) won by 38 runs at Copthorne (Abdul ibrahim 5-41 and Paul Smart 5-61).

Imthiyas Ahamed made 109 and team-mate Tim Burton took 5-54 as Ardingly won by 87 runs at Turners Hill.

After a minor blip a week earlier, Division 4 leaders Ditchling returned to winning ways as Chris Goodwin (53no) helped them a six-wicket win at Lindfield IV, while SJM III moved off the bottom with their second win as Ryan Older (5-30) helped bowl them to a 71-run home win against Cowfold.

Pete Davidson (4-28 and 51) starred for Streat II in a home draw with Lingfield IV, whose Aaron Morton made 64 and Stephen Brownsey took 5-27.

Simon Collins (64) was an unlucky loser for Cuckfield IV at home to Palmers II, while Edenbridge II beat visitors Crawley Down II by 26 runs.

Balcombe III went top of Division 5 by beating bottom club Smallfield II handsomely as Tim Murrills hit an unbeaten 105 and Sam Bottomley contributed exactly 50.

Knocked off the top perch were Lingfield IV as they were held by Keymer & Hassocks III in a game that featured fifties from Peter Buch (52) and Rowland Molyneux (52no).

Hurstpierpoint II slipped to second bottom as Stuart MacRae (52no) helped visitors Dormansland II to a six-wicket win, while in the other matches there were fifties from Richard Johnson (63) and Dan Foden (54) of Horsted Keynes II, and Brian Leppard (59 for Forest Row III).