Heavy rain is never a welcome sight for cricketers – even less so when it contributes to first defeats of the season.

That was the case for Division Three title hopefuls Upwood and Sawtry in the Hunts League last Saturday.

Leaders Upwood fell 27 runs short of a revised target at Peterborough side Falcon XI after earlier dismissing their hosts for 139.

Siblings Neil and Steve Tuffin impressed with the ball, taking 4-33 and 3-10 respectively, but their side could only reach 96 in reply.

Sawtry went down by 57 runs at Biggleswade. They had limped to 72-4 when the rain set in during the 23rd over of their reply in a match reduced to 35 overs per side. Ian Bonsall bagged 3-38 as the home side posted 195-6.

Eaton Socon 2nds were another side to fall short of a revised target in their Division One trip to Southill Park.

Scott Stevenson, Roan Haarhoff and Macauley Clark claimed two wickets apiece as the home side racked up 196-7 before Socon reached 81-4 in a 20-over reply – 22 runs short of their target. Matthew Sharpe was unbeaten on 48.

The rain couldn’t save Brampton from a third successive loss after a batting collapse in Division Four.

The local side were skittled for 124 by Castor & Ailsworth 2nds despite a half-century from skipper Andy Canham (55) and 31 from fellow opener Stuart Henderson.

But no other Brampton man made it into double-figures and the hosts had no problems in easing past a revised target without loss.

There was a first reverse of the summer for Kimbolton 2nds at that level. They went down to new leaders Newborough 2nds in another rain-affected game.

Little Paxton weren’t happy to see the heavens opened as they looked poised for victory against Blunham 3rds.

Troy Beavis (3-15) and Tommo Newton (3-18) helped to remove the visitors for just 74 with Little Paxton on 18-1 when a halt was called.

There were no such weather issues last Sunday when Buckden bashed Upwood by 145 runs in Division Five.

Opener Matthew Stevens hit 73 of Buckden’s 203-8 before Tom Chester struck with 3-6 as Upwood were sent packing for just 58.