DROITWICH Spa collected their first Worcestershire Cricket League Division One victory of the season at the 17th time of asking with an emphatic five-wicket victory over title-chasing Bewdley.

Upon winning the toss Spa skipper Ian Cottrill inserted the visitors and saw them dismissed for 117 with a complete bowling and fielding performance.

Max Young bowled as well as he has done all summer for 4-16 from 10 overs while left-arm spinner Martyn Davies picked up 4-27.

After the loss of an early wicket opener Ash Fearnall and Greg Mazgajczyk added 43 for the second wicket.

It proved vital as Mazgajczyk’s dismissal for 10 saw Spa lose a further three wickets for 11 runs, including Fearnall for an imperious 46.

At 76-5 Bewdley sensed they were in with a chance but their hopes were dashed by gritty knocks from Jordan Renau (24 not out) and Cottrill (16no) which ensured Spa’s first victory of the season in only the 25th over.

Spa remain top of Second XI Division Two after a comfortable seven-wicket win over promotion rivals Belbroughton to go 45 points ahead of their opponents.

Spa reduced the hosts to 18-5 as Dave Stephens ran through the top order to claim 4-24 from 10 overs.

Carl Thomson picked up 3-24 but Belbroughton skipper Pete Margetts scored 92 of his team’s 114 before he was dismissed by counterpart Karl Goddard who took 3-4 from eight overs.

A confident opening partnership between James King (34) and Martin Keen (38) ensured the result was never in doubt.

Spa retained their 18-point lead over Cookley who in turn are 24 in front of Chaddesley Corbett with five games left.

Callum Goddard hit 70 for the thirds as they posted 172 in their Division Five winning draw at Redditch.

The hosts were pegged back and ended up hanging on at 155-8 as spinner Joe Smith returned 4-36.

In the exciting fourths fixture Spa won by four wickets in the last over as they chased down 207 thanks to a century stand between Tom Goss (81) and Steve Pearson (41).

On Saturday the firsts hope to maintain their winning form when Burghill, Tillington and Weobley visit St Peter’s Fields.

The Herefordshire outfit are the opponents for the seconds too while the thirds and fourths play Pershore.