CHIPPING SODBURY produced their performance of the season to beat table-toppers Claverham by eight wickets and claim top spot in the league - their highest ever league position.

Sodbury bowled first and were given the ideal start by openers Jamie Wakefield and Jay Penfold.

Wakefield bowled with pace and aggression to pick up two early wickets leaving Claverham on 12-2.

Penfold, out of first team action for almost a decade, rolled back the years with a vintage display of seam bowling claiming a miserly 1-26 from his 11 overs.

The Claverham middle order steadied the ship but the introduction of Jamie Rendell and Steve Clapp turned the game in Sodbury’s favour once more.

With the aid of some excellent fielding that induced two run outs, Rendell spun his way to take 3-29 and Clapp claimed 2-20 as Claverham collapsed to 138 all out.

Sodbury’s opening batsmen, Craig Scully and Rendell, put on a cautious 46 before Rendell was bowled for 27.

James Hicks soon followed for nine with the score on 65 but Wakefield and Scully erased any doubts as they took the attack to Claverham.

Wakefield stroked his way to 22 not out from 24 balls but it was Scully who was man of the moment.

After a steady start, he unleashed several ferocious drives to finish on 79 not out, his second fifty in a row, as Sodbury romped home with nine overs to spare. Bristol & North Somerset 2nd XI Chipping Sodbury (175-9) beat Claverham (171) by one wicket

The seconds almost managed to lose a game they should have comfortably won as they sneaked home by one wicket against Claverham.

The visitors batted first and were dismissed in the final over.

A young Sodbury attack showed great maturity with Craig Dyer (3-31) and Kriss Hemming (3-38) leading the way and they were well supported by the experienced Mark Graham (2-40) and Aid Forrester (2-42).

Sodbury lost Rich Bennett cheaply but were given a steady start by their top order.

Paul Crabtree led from the front, top scoring with 41.

He was well supported by Nick Wake, who cracked eight fours in his 32, Matthew Webb (27) and Mark Reynolds (23) also chipped in as Sodbury reached 159-5.

However, a traditional Sodbury shuffle threatened to ruin proceedings as the home side lost four quick wickets to slump to 169-9 and three runs still needed for victory.

However, the final pairing of Craig Dyer and Bradley Arkwright saw Sodbury home with Arkwright hitting the winning runs in style with a boundary to finish.

Bristol & District Cricket League 2nd XI Division One Mary Redcliffe 2nd XI (178-9) lost to Chipping Sodbury 3rd XI (153) by 25 runs

Sodbury fell 25 runs short of their target in an entertaining game against St Mary’s Redcliffe.

St Mary’s batted first and made 178-9 from their 45 overs.

Sodbury will have felt they could have restricted the home side to a lower total after having them at 93-7 at one stage.

All the bowlers contributed but Alex Tebbitt, with 2-27 from 15 overs and captain Michael Garton (3-40), were the pick of the attack.

Sodbury’s top order then crumbled with only Chris Young, who top scored with 29, making a stand.

The loss of those early wickets meant Sodbury were always chasing the game and despite runs from Ian Townsend (24), Tom Clay (16) and Michael Garton (19*), Sodbury’s spirited rear guard action was not enough as they finished 25 runs short.

Bristol & District Cricket League A XI Division One Chipping Sodbury 4th XI (115-9) lost to Hanham

In a close game at the Ridings, Sodbury’s fourth team were beaten by two wickets by Hanham.

Sodbury batted first and made 151-9 from their 45 overs.

They were indebted again to the in-form Phil Hemming, who made 55.

Craig Hambly (17) Matt Calicott and Mackenzie Winbow (15) also made telling contributions.

The visitors crept home despite the best efforts of a young Sodbury side.

Hambly (4-19) and Winbow (3-19) bowled superbly to claim their best figures in senior cricket but their efforts were in vain as Hanham reached their target with two wickets in hand.

Bristol & District Cricket League A XI Division Three Frampton Cotterell 3rd XI (221-7) beat Chipping Sodbury 5th XI (104) by 117 runs

Sodbury fifths were well beaten by an experienced Frampton team as they went down by 117 runs.

Frampton batted first and posted a daunting 221-7 from their allotted overs.

Rich Deane (3-38) and Jerard Camplin (2-47) were the best Sodbury bowlers.