TENBURY WELLS took a massive step towards the Worcestershire County League Division Five title with victory over closest rivals Hallow.

The game saw the top two pitted against each other as Tenbury embarked on a crucial fortnight for their promotion ambitions.

Aaron Morris made 91 and Andrew Adams 60 in an opening partnership of 153 in 26 overs which effectively broke the back of their pursuit of 220.

The visitors had been asked to bat by Zack Yarranton, who went against his usual instinct to bat first, and along with Rob Farrar took early scalps.

But Dave Pugh added 39 and then Scott Hodgetts top scored with 66 before being removed by Morris who took a catch off his own bowling.

Joel Menel batted until the end of the innings finishing unbeaten on 59, the away side closing on 220-7, with Liam Stratford adding 26 in a useful partnership with Menel.

Morris finished with 3-30 and Henry Anton 2-46

Tenbury looked in charge from the outset with Morris and Adams but Steve Hayes did his best to stem the tide removing both openers, Adams going first ball after drinks, and then getting rid of Tom Rawlings for a couple.

But there was to be no dramatic collapse with Anton batting through to the winning target with 26, achieved in just 38.3 overs.

Yarranton is now looking ahead to this weekend’s game against Old Elizabethans who went second courtesy of an easy win over Stourbridge 3rds.

“Conditions were overcast so I decided to have a bowl which I always think is a risk," he said. "The game swung backwards and forwards and I had hoped to keep them below 200 but Aaron and Andy did a job for us again with that partnership.

“It was nice to make a statement against one of our main rivals with not just a win, but a fairly convincing one.

“We know Old Elizabethans are a big club with a lot more players to choose from and we don’t know what we will face over there but we are very confident as a team at the moment.”

The second-team meeting between the two sides saw a reversal in fortunes with Hallow coming out on top by 25 runs.

Graeme Fowler’s 67 was the foundation for the home side’s score of 178 with Ian Taylor talking 4-32.

But it proved to be just out of reach for Tenbury, who were dismissed for 153.

Skipper Ben Thompson top scored with 48, Matthew Jones made 31 and Chris Giles 29 but after a promising start they fell away and it was Rob Bawden’s 4-3 in three overs which eventually swung the game in favour of the hosts.