SPCL2 - Academy within point of Division Two title

The Hampshire Academy are within one point of clinching the Southern Electric Premier League, Division 2 championship after a seven-wicket win over United Services at the Rose Bowl.

They will almost certainly be crowned champions when they visit Trojans at Stoneham Lane on Saturday.

Second-placed Easton & Martyr Worthy whipped Rowledge by 72 runs, but dropped two valuable points in the process.

Jimmy Adams (3-41) and Ian Hilsum (3-41) reduced US to 93-6 before John Mann (38) picked up late support from Paul Barsby (23) and Guy Lewis (26) to lift the visitors to 182-9.

Iain Brunnschweiler (31) for the Academy youngsters away to a brisk start before departing, alongside Peter Hammond, at 43-2.

But it was Alex Richardson's well crafted 70 not out that won the day for the Young Hawks. Adams (22) made his mark before Martin Bushell (36 not out) joined Richardson to secure victory.

Beaten National Village Championship semi-finalists Rowledge are in desperate trouble at the bottom after crashing to defeat against Easton.

They reduced EMW to 23-4 before Steve Green's magnificent 98 not out hoisted the visitors to 199-5.

Mark Stone (4-16) and Matt Bolland (2-16) wrecked the Rowledge top order before Andy Birch (3-13) ended the late order resistance by Chris Yates (38). Rowledge, dismissed for 129, will have to score a 22-point maximum at Hungerford, if they are to stand any chance of survival.

Hungerford made themselves safe with an easy seven-wicket win over ten-man Winchester KS (116), but Old Tauntonians & Romsey are not entirely clear of trouble after a 21-run defeat at Sparsholt.

Rob Savage (74) and Kevin Foyle (35) lifted Sparsholt out of early trouble created by Jeremy Ord (3-31) and pushed the Winchester club to a healthy 197 all out.

Ord hit 48 not out for OTR, but Ian Stuart's spell of 4-37 left the visitors well behind the rate. They closed at 176-8 (Paul Longland 33).

Aaron Heal, Lymington's Western Australian Under-19 all-rounder, is launching a late challenge for the Premier Division 2 individual batting prize after scoring 111 against Trojans.

The century took Heal's run aggregate to 603 - 39 behind Charles Forward, the hard-hitting Old Tauntonians & Romsey left-hander.

But Heal's efforts were to no avail as Trojans snatched a one-wicket win in a thrilling rain-cut finish.

Glyn Treagus (35) and Chris Warde (35 not out) gave Heal support as Lymington reached 225-7, a total trimmed to 216 after a two-over rain interruption.

Mike Durand (59) steered Trojans to 97-1, but it was Jon Gillespie's unbeaten 39 that got Trojans home by one wicket in a tense finish.