But there are worrying signs for the leaders with second placed Lidsdale inflicting a rare loss on them.

After a slow start to the season, Lidsdale are coming good at the right time, but to be fair, Valley No 1 could only field eight players.

Batting first they finished with a score of 60 with Nic Kenniff the only batsman to show any form with 30.

Lidsdale’s Steve Bender bowled well (3-16) as did Nathan Redding (2-16).

Lidsdale, who only had nine players, took the match with the loss of only two wickets with Mitch Redding (36 not out) and Jack Rainsford (14 not out) doing the job.

It will be interesting come semi final time when both these sides field their best 11.

Hampton are no easy beats

La Salle Hornets v Hampton: Hampton, who are last on the competition ladder and will be competing in the C grade play-offs, showed they are anything but easy beats with a good win over La Salle Hornets

They showed their batting strength scoring 165 with Matt Gerard (32), Shannon Johns (36), Greg Kitchner (35) and Zeb Farr (18) all contributing to the big score.

Stingers’ Richard Wheeler cannot be blamed for the loss after taking 5-22 off eight overs.

La Salle Hornets finished with a score of 138, with Ash Redding (23), Brock Barry (18), Richard Wheeler (14), Connor Legge (21) and Dave Wheeler (18) all getting starts.

Wickets were shared around by the Hampton bowlers with Tim White (2-42), Tan Sing (3-26), S Grady (2-41) and Shannon Johns (2-12) the best.

Valley No 2 a contender

Portland v Valley No 2: While their clubmates Valley No 1 finished first, Valley No 2 maintain they have the team to take out the title although their win over Portland was far from convincing.

They finished their innings at 7-84 with only two batsmen making it into double figures.

Bryan Appleyard (27) and Lou Kappos (21 not out) put up some fight.

Bowling for Portland, Lionel McCann (2-6) and Wayne Schumack (2-5) bowled well.

Portland’s batting over the past couple of weeks has been fairly ordinary and again could only manage 46 with their best being Matt Wade with 10.

The Valley bowlers were right on their game with Matt Williams (4-21) and Bryan Appleyard (5-17) doing the damage.

Grady stars in win

Lithgow Hotel No 1 v No 2: It was the No 2s who received the Lithgow Hotel bragging rights and they did so in emphatic style.

The No 2s scored a total of 180 with Grady Danaher (70), Tim Keogh (52), Wayne McCann (23) and Ray Bradley (11) all showing good form.

Bowling for the No 1s, Justin McKinnon (2-22), Kurt Lewicki (2-24) and Brad Hazel (2-21) all bowled well.

The No 1s struggled with their batting with Justin McKinnon (10), Mitch Dean (10) and Andrew McIntosh (30) the only batsmen of note.

Bowling for the 2s, the consistent Wayne McCann (3-10) and Mick Wellands (2-15) were their best.