JUBILANT Charlton Down clinched the Dorchester & District Evening League Division Two title and promotion to the top flight with two victories.

In the crunch match against their nearest challengers Hazelbury Bryan, Mark Homewood ripped through the Hazelbury batting with a five-wicket haul for just 17 runs.

When Joe Taylor backed this up with 2-5, Hazelbury were shot out for a mere 52, a seemingly very low target.

However, Luke Holman with 3-6 and James Green (2-16) had Charlton Down struggling at 20-5 until Jack Eveleigh’s 22 not out saw them home by four wickets.

Down found scoring a little easier against Abbotsbury, Ashley Hayes top-scoring with 38 in their 121.

Cameron Lucas starred again, but this time with the ball as his 2-16 and Taylor’s 2-17 left Charlton Down winners by 38 runs to clinch the title and remain unbeaten.

READ MORE: Charlton Down stride to Abbotsbury win

Hazelbury also found scoring much easier in their other recent result as they quickly knocked off a target of 112 to beat Bere Regis by nine wickets.

Bere also fell to Puddletown Seconds as Matt Porter’s 34 led his side to 134.

Chris Ascott then rapidly removed both Bere openers and despite a rearguard 43 not out from David Lovell, Puddletown won by 37 runs.

Puddletown’s firsts made sure of the Division One championship by comfortably beating their main rivals St George’s. Dan Morris’s 35 led them to set 149, a target which St George’s never looked like reaching, a 60-run margin for Puddletown making them uncatchable at the top.

Cattistock & Symene are also certain of Division Three top spot after their defeat of Dorchester Colts, though the game was closer than many expected.

Bradley Mullins with three wickets helped keep the Colts’ total under 100, despite 35 from Remy Wood.

When Nathan Quinn produced 4-23, Cattistock seemed in trouble despite 36 from Harry Angel, but a very rapid 22 from George Wyatt saw them home with just three wickets to spare.

Frampton kept up their run to second place with a win over Puddletown Rugby Club.

Adam Church (2-18) and Simon Roberts (2-18) had Frampton struggling but a belligerent 65 not out from Dean Smy got them to 143.

Jim Ross set RFC off well with 27 but changes of bowling introduced Ben Buckland with 3-18 and Tommy Fowler 2-14 to leave the Rugby Club well adrift.

As for the Doug Read Cup final, in front of a good number of spectators, Mark Homewood took early wickets for Charlton Down but St George’s recovered well to set the target at 152, Tim Goodhew striking 49.

Charlton Down were sometimes behind the required rate but with just four overs to go, the game was in the balance with 32 runs required before lightning in the area forced the players off the field.

The final replay will be held tomorrow evening (Friday) at Dorchester Rec (6.30pm).