Title chasers Ringmer sent leaders Crowhurst Park spinning to their second defeat of the season and kept their hopes of securing the East Sussex League championship alive.

In a close match, Ringmer skipper Gary Holder's shrewd tactical ploy to open his bowling attack with a spinner paid off as the hosts were bowled out for the first time this season.

Holder said: "We decided to open with spinner Murray Barnett and we kept the old ball. We hazarded a guess that their top order batsmen would not have faced much spin bowling this season and it worked out well."

Park put second-placed Ringmer in and soon made inroads to have them at 36-4 as Richard Coleman (3-22), Paul Brookes (1-46) did the early damage before Dave Thomas (35) and Richard Thomas (40) put on 77 for the fifth wicket.

Victor Walcott (4-45) and Graham Corke (2-8) then wrapped up the rest of the batting as Ringmer finished on 168. Barnett (5-80) made an instant impact when Park replied, removing Mike Pannett first ball and they were soon 21-3. Although skipper Michael Legg (22) and Martin Menezes (49) steadied the innings, wickets fell regularly to Graham Pitts (3-51) and Barnett.

Last pair Laurence Coleman and Graham Corke were within sight of the target but Coleman played on to his stumps with the hosts still eight runs short of victory in a tense finish.

Holder said: "We could not afford to lose this one and that has made it more interesting put more pressure on them. However, it is important not to get too carried away as it is still in their hands as they are nine points ahead of us with four games remaining."

Rye took a significant step towards saving themselves from the drop but Chiddingly's title challenge is all but over as their nine men slumped to a 55-run defeat. Rye made 150 after being 104-2 with Nigel Hacking top scoring as Martin Hole (5-60) and Tom Carr (3-4) sparked a batting collapse. In reply, David Dee (3-2) and Martin Blincow (3-27) soon made indents as only Jonathan Lofthouse offered any resistance, hitting 34.

Bottom side Herstmonceux also picked up maximum points as they strode to a seven-wicket win over Fletching, who were dismissed for 171 despite Mark Horscroft's 71 as Alan Smith (6-55) wreaked havoc. Andy Standen (45 not out) and David White (41) steered Herst to victory.

Newick are pushing for a top three finish, though they were unable to force victory over DPB after posting 210-8 with Paul Cone (58), Sam Carter (37) and Stef Ashford (37) in fine form. The visitors made 178-6 in reply, James Bentley making an unbeaten 75 after Newick skipper David Hutchinson (3-21) dropped him in the slips.

Ditchling were left to cling on in the end for a draw at Wadhurst as they made 196-9 which chasing a total of 223 which owed much to Brough Cooper's 65 and Geoff Teys' 52 as Matthew Searle took 4-39. Jonny Atkinson (37) and Patrick Nolan (36) got the majority of Ditchling's runs as Graham Everdell took 4-43.

In division two, leaders Battle were able to restrict Buxted Park to 144 (Andy Meed 53) as Brian Scollay (5-61) and Chris Foord (3-26) got among the batting, and the reply was led by Rob Quiney with 68 not out and Ollie West (43) as they grabbed a seven-wicket win.

Seaford moved back into second place as John Reynolds cracked a superb 137 and Clive Chipper hit 51 in their 210-3 at Lewes St Michael's, who were then rolled over for 108 as Jon Smith took 5-50.

Heathfield Park closed on Glynde as they restricted their visitors to 175 with good bowling from Steve Oakes (3-51) and Simon Briggs (3-17) as only Dave Proctor (37) and Adam McBrown (37) got among the runs. Ian Cox then hit an unbeaten 114 as Park got home by four wickets despite the best efforts of Dominic Shepherd (3-19).

Rottingdean's 212-7 (Waller 3-76) was spearheaded by Mark Stansfield's 112 not out but visitors Barcombe held on for a draw at 181-8 as Sanjay Patel (47), Keith Savage (59) and Rob Jenner (43) made contributions with Mark Smith taking 3-81.

Iden picked up a crucial win down the bottom as they again went to town with the bat to pile up 249-6 in 43 overs with David White (92) and Neil Cloute (85) leading the charge. St Peters were skittled out for 195 with Matthew Knight hitting 73 and Barney Douglas 50 as White also took 3-22.

Hellingly have gone top of division three following a two wicket win over Uckfield Anderida which was achieved with two overs to spare.

Uckfield recovered from 76-6 to post a total of 177-9 with Ian Armstrong scoring 33 as Vince Woolley claimed 6-37. In reply, James Wise (40) and Paul Wheatley (35) provided the main contributions as Hellingly reached their target.

Title rivals Pevensey lost at Maresfield, who had only won one previous match this season.

Division three: Little Common 84-1 (Ali Burnett 43no) beat Pett 79 (Andy Goodsell 30); Maresfield 218-6 (James Poplett 72, Mick March 59, Trevor Lucas 40, Paul Elliot 4-69) beat Pevensey 216-3 (Mike Tingley 64 not out, Jon Plumley 52); Rotherfield 115-2 (Dave Harman 56) beat Beaulieu 114 (Neil Blackford 49, Kevin Simmonds 7-23); Tunbridge Wells Borderers 191-8 (Peter Danckert 51, Nick Edwards 43, Sam Hover 3-28, Ian Parks 3-61) beat Polegate and Stone Cross 155 (Rob Warner 89, Peter Danckert 5-31, Dean Serra 3-42); Uckfield Anderida 177-9 (Vince Woolley 6-37) lost to Hellingly 178-8 (James Wise 40, John Deverill 3-51).

Division four: Dicker Butterfly 187 (David Hawkins 50, Mark Steadman 4-38) lost to Robertsbridge 210-8 (Richard Hawthorne 110); Glynde 177-3 (Phil Harper 50, Bob Marshall 56 not out) beat Hailsham 174 (Jason Head 48, Haydn Filtness 4-48); Ringmer II 214-3 (Peter Crees 60 not out, Tim Wheeler 42) drew with Battle II 147-4 (Ian Withers 47 not out); Willingdon 143 (Lee Walters 39, Mark Simmonds 33) drew with Wadhurst II 128-9.

IT'S the same old story at the top of the Cuckmere Valley League with Selmeston maintaining their ten point advantage after recovering from 38-6 to post 143-8 against visitors Firle.

Paul Saunders hit 51 and Geoff Saunders 35 in Selmeston's total while Firle were dismissed for 96 as James Gravett (35) received little support as Adrian Burden took 4-13.

Blackboys are second and amassed 221-4 with Nick Walters hitting 62 and Matthew Bradford 60 while Preston Village fell for 107 in reply with Fred Bisnath's 34 the highlight of their innings as Walters followed up with 3-19.

East Dean's 128-9 had useful contributions from Mike Bush (29) and Simon Farrer (28) as Alan Poulter took 4-30, and Nutley never got close as they were skittled out for 50, having been 8-4 at one point, with Grant Olive (20) top scoring as Tim Woodford took 3-6.

Alfriston rallied from 47-4 to 119-9 as John Harmer made 39 with Peter Adams taking 2-15, but hosts Withyham did little better as they struggled to 72 all out, having been 17-4, with Ali Batchelor (3-23) instrumental in forcing the visitors' victory.

Bells Yew Green's Mark Beard hit 39 in their 155-7 (Tim Carter 2-29) but Burwash Weald edged home by two wickets with Ian Long (48) and Rob French (35) the mainstays as Alex Gravett 3-33 made inroads.

Division two: Laughton 80 (John Porter 40, Jeremy Isbister 3-26, Brian Stillwell 4-9) lost to Mayfield II 101 (Brian Stillwell 33, Leigh Barnes 24, F. Richardson 3-17, John Porter 2-18); Mayfield 144-9 (John Cooke 27, Mike Horton 25) beat Denton 143-8 (Goddard 48, Davy Milne 27, Geoff Parsons 3-27); Malling 100 lost to Ridgewood 216-4 (Alan Martindale 80, Paul Gower 58no).