THE Bridge Inn Bears finally got their title defence back on track with a 53-run victory over Portland United.

Paul Payne top-scored with 64 as the Bears set a target of 116 from their 16 overs.

Jim Ryall made up for his shortcomings with the bat to take three wickets for 17 as the Blues were restricted to 63-5 in reply.

Pete Turrell (15) and Pat George (25no) provided the bulk of the runs, but were unable to stop the Bridge cruising to their first win.

RNSTS extended their lead at the top of Division One with a slender victory against fellow title-challengers Budmouth.

The Budmouth bowlers did a good job of containing RNSTS to 104-4 as only one batsman, Pete Moxom (21), scored more than 20.

Phil Morley (49) led a one-man run chase, with support from Kevin Dyke (19), and their efforts set up a dramatic final over - though RNSTS held on to win by two runs.

New Look moved up to share second place following a close win against Portland Red Triangle.

The islanders rediscovered their batting form to score 109-3, thanks to a rapid 49 from skipper Dave Price after an opening stand of 45 from Andy Randell (17) and Grant Neven (23).

Triangle made quick inroads into New Look's top-order as off-spinner Randell (3-26) missed a hat-trick chance, before Andy Fulton (46) and Mark Purnell (20) mounted the recovery.

A crucial bowling change swung the game towards New Look as Neven's two overs were plundered for 26 runs, before Price (2-19) replaced him and removed the pair.

This left Mark Sedman and Geoff Lloyd to knock off the winning runs with two balls to spare.

Saggies continue to climb the table and beat Budmouth in another tight game.

Batting first, Budmouth were indebted to Morley's 52 as the rest of the side were tied down by the Saggies bowlers, limiting their hosts to 87-7.

Budmouth once again pushed their opponents right to the wire with some tight bowling, but Saggies were able to scrape home with three balls remaining.

In Division Two Longshots continue to lead the way with their third win in a row against the Marquis of Granby.

Longshots limited the Marquis to 66-7 from 17 overs with an efficient bowling display.

The improving Marquis made life difficult for the leaders as they picked up five wickets, with Dunham (3-17) removing both openers, before captain Phil Eaton saw his side home in the 14th over.

The George Inn triumphed in the island derby against the Portland Arms to secure their first points of the season.

A typically rapid 23 from opener Tony Quayle laid the foundations for the George's innings and a late unbeaten 20 from Dave Proffitt saw them finish on 94-5.

The George's young bowling attack of Callan Laws (2-18) and Simon Proffitt (2-20) took care of the top order and the Arms were always behind the required rate, ending 14 runs adrift.

Despite a heroic all-round performance from the Lugger's Sam Polley, he was unable to save his side from a four-wicket defeat against Cosmos.

Batting first the Lugger posted 113-7 with Polley carrying his bat for an unbeaten 71, forming the basis of the innings.

In reply, Cosmos got off to a good start as openers Rob Hodges (27) and Brian Keane (46) put on 74 in the first nine overs.

The introduction of Polley (3-23) into the attack brought their dismissal and the game was decided in Cosmos' favour on the final ball of the game.

In the Echo Cup first round New Look booked their place in the quarter-finals with a club record 103-run win against Wessex Gasworks.

Jon Dixon (34) returned to the New Look line-up and with Dave Mansbridge (38no) helped post a challenging target of 126-3 from 16 overs.

The Gasworks had no answer to the evergreen spinner as Dixon proved virtually unplayable taking five wickets for just three runs in his five-over spell, backed up by Mark Purnell (3-1) as Wessex crumbled to 23 all out.

Longshots will join them in the next round after Cosmos were beaten by seven wickets at Redlands. Phil Eaton (4-4) and Ellis (3-17) made short work of the Cosmos batting as they were dismissed for just 46.

Longshots lost three wickets as they passed the winning target in the 12th over.

Division One: RNSTS 104-4 (P Moxom 21, D Trotter 20, R Lawson 2-33) beat Budmouth 102-9 (P Morley 49, D Trotter 3-24, P Moxom 2-26, S Budd 2-27) by 2 runs.

New Look 110-6 (A Fulton 46, M Purnell 20, A Randell 3-26, D Price 2-19) beat Portland RT 109-3 (D Price 49, G Neven 23, N Slack 1-7) by 4 wickets.

Bridge Inn Bears 116-6 (P Payne 64, G Lamb 20, D Naerger 2-11, D Whyton 2-39, A Turrell 2-43) beat Portland Utd 63-5 (P George 25no, J Ryall 3-17) by 53 runs.

Saggies 88-6 (S Browne 16, N Murray 2-10, N Walton 2-20, P Morley 2-22) beat Budmouth 87-7 (P Morley 52, P Gadsby 4-21) by 4 wickets Division Two: The George Inn 94-5 (T Quayle 23, D Proffitt 20no, K Brown 2-21) beat Portland Arms 80-7 (S Tanner 22, L Spencer 2-11, C Laws 2-18, S Proffitt 2-20) by 14 runs.

Cosmos 116-6 (B Keane 46, P Simms 28no, R Hodges 27, S Polley 3-23) beat The Lugger 113-7 (S Polley 71no, Hibberd 2-26, S Cruickshank 2-27, R Hodges 2-31) by 4 wickets.

Longshots 68-5 (P Hicks 19, J Dunham 3-17) beat Marquis of Granby 66-7 (S Little 17, M Lovett 3-18) by 5 wickets.

Echo Cup First Round: New Look 126-3 (D Mansbridge 38no, J Dixon 34, M Cottingham 2-42) beat Wessex Gasworks 23 all out (G Price 14, J Dixon 5-3, M Purnell 3-1) by 103 runs.

Longshots 51-3 (M Hardy 19, Justin 2-23) beat Cosmos 46-9 all out (P Simms 15, P Eaton 4-4, N Ellis 3-17) by 7 wickets. RNSTS beat Portland Arms by forfeit DIVISION ONE

P W L T NR Pts

RNSTS 4 4 0 0 0 8

Budmouth 4 2 2 0 0 4

New Look 3 2 1 0 0 4

Saggies 3 2 1 0 0 4

Bridge Inn Bears 3 1 2 0 0 2

Portland United 3 1 2 0 0 2

Portland RT 4 0 4 0 0 0

DIVISION TWO

Weymouth Longshots CC 3 3 0 0 0 6

Wessex Gasworks 2 2 0 0 0 4

Lugger* 3 2 1 0 0 3

Cosmos 2 1 1 0 0 2

George Inn 2 1 1 0 0 2

Marquis of Granby 3 0 3 0 0 0

Royal Portland Arms 3 0 3 0 0 0

* One point deducted for late/missing results card THIS week's fixtures

Tonight - Division One: Bridge Inn Bears v Budmouth at Redlands 3, RNSTS v Portland RT at Redlands 2.

Tomorrow - Division One: Saggies v New Look at Redlands 3. Division Two: George Inn v Marquis of Granby at PRT, Portland Arms v Cosmos at YOI.

Wednesday - Division Two: Lugger v Wessex Gasworks at Redlands 3.

Echo Cup First Round: Portland Utd v Bridge Inn Bears at YOI.