Ryan Drage produced a career-best performance to catapult Houghton & Wyton into contention for a second successive Hunts League promotion.

The Hunts Post: Houghton & Wyton bowler Jerry Wood sends down a delivery in their Hunts League success at Alconbury.Houghton & Wyton bowler Jerry Wood sends down a delivery in their Hunts League success at Alconbury. (Image: Archant)

Drage took 6/26 to set up a four-wicket derby triumph at Alconbury last Saturday which lifted his side into second spot in Division Two.

Drage’s fine figures, and a 3-27 return from skipper Mike Piaggesi, helped to remove Alconbury for just 130. Joseph Purse was the other Houghton & Wyton wicket-taker.

Surpassing that target certainly wasn’t a cakewalk as Alconbury men Fiaz Mirza and Richard Ewing claimed three wickets apiece, but 35 from opener Martin Heginbotham and an unbeaten 27 by Paul Bigger helped Houghton & Wyton to victory.

They leapfrogged a Buckden side who were beaten by Bharat Sports despite the brilliance of their skipper.

Laurie Marsh hit an unbeaten 107 – his second ton of the summer - to help the locals post 221-8, but it was not enough to stop their Peterborough-based opponents easing to a five-wicket win.

Sawtry could well be playing Division Two cricket next season after taking a stranglehold on top spot in Division Three.

Dave Atkinson (63), Ian Bonsall (59) and James Wiltshire (55) all hit half-centuries in a 170-run drubbing of Orton Park 2nds last Saturday.

Sawtry piled up a mammoth 316-7 before limiting their hosts to 146-6 in reply.

A second career century from Charlie Saunders inspired a second win of the season for Ramsey 3rds.

Saunders hit an unbeaten 112 – one run short of his finest score recorded last summer.

But he wasn’t the only player to impress in a 56-run victory against Burghley Park 2nds as Sean Hill took 4-35.

Wins are proving to be like buses for Brampton in Division Four. They waited two months for one to come along and another then followed last Saturday.

Brampton made it back-to-back victories with a five-wicket verdict at Werrington, although it proved to be a painful experience for one player.

Darren Boucker needed hospital treatment after top-edging a delivery into his face. but his knock of 43, along with a big-hitting 76 from Stuart Henderson, helped to steer his side past their hosts’ offering of 200.

The three local teams in Division One have plunged into the bottom three positions in the standings.

It is proving to be a difficult summer for Waresley 2nds, Eaton Socon 2nds and Ramsey 2nds in the top-flight.

Rock-bottom Waresley 2nds’ wait for a win goes on after they were on the receiving end of another heavy defeat last Saturday.

They went down by nine wickets to Peterborough side Orton Park after being dismissed for 137.

Eaton Socon remain in the relegation zone after coming up 13 runs short at Burghley Park. They were removed for 193 despite some quick-hitting from Ray Tudor (79).

Ramsey 2nds suffered a batting collapse in a seven-wicket reverse at Southill Park as their effort of 162 was easily eclipsed.

Their final eight wickets fell for the addition of just 39 runs after Ollie Stevens (50), captain Damian Clarke (38) and Leighton Gilbert (37) had laid some solid foundations.