BERE Regis blasted their way to the Division Two title with an emphatic nine-wicket thumping of relegated Puddletown.

Needing a win to make absolutely sure of the trophy and promotion to the top tier, they had few problems dispatching their opponents, who finished bottom of the table.

Batting first, hosts Puddletown made 108-8 in 20 overs with Chris Ascott ending the innings unbeaten on 25 despite some good bowling from Oran Davis (2-21).

That total was never going to be enough and Bere Regis romped home thanks to a knock of 48 from Nick White as his side lost only one wicket.

If Bere Regis had lost, the only side that could have drawn level on points with them at the top was Hazelbury Bryan, but they lost their final fixture of the season to Abbotsbury by an agonising nine runs.

Victory for the Swans was enough to preserve their status in Division Two and their total of 115-6 was built around Simon Pengelly’s 43. Their rivals got close in reply, but P Gordon’s 4-26 saw them fall just short.

That slip offered Charlton Down the chance to join Hazelbury Bryan on 14 points and they did just that courtesy of a 15-run success against Abbotsbury.

Down posted a score of 142-4, M Brown top scoring with 57, and the Swans reached 127-4 when their overs ran out.

Two wins in their last two games saw Churches United enjoy a strong finish to the season.

They sneaked home by eight runs against Puddletown, tot-alling 125-5 batting first with Keiran Womble making 48.

Matt Porter’s 40 for Puddletown was countered by 3-22 for Laurie Whyte as the team batting second made 117-7.

In Division One, Martinstown secured second place thanks to a five-wicket win against Winfrith, who just avoided the drop.

The visitors only mustered 66-9 batting first due mainly to Stuart Fry’s superb figures of 6-10. Fry then hit 27 not out as Martins-town eased to victory.

St George’s romped to a 54-run thrashing of Winfrith, Dave Griffiths falling one short of a half-century for the champions in their 122-5.

There were three wickets for Rich Cole in Winfrith’s reply which had only got to 68-8 at the close of play. Cerne Valley were relegated.

Results

Division One: St George’s 122-5 (Dave Griffths 49, Ryan Norman 2-22) beat Winfrith 68-8 (Matt Thomas 25, Rich Cole 3-13), Martinstown 70-5 (Stuart Fry 27no, P Barker 4-7) beat Winfrith 66-9 (Lewis Kirby 28, Stuart Fry 6-10)

Division Two: Churches United 125-5 (Keiran Womble 48, Mike Hoffman 3-14) beat Puddletown 117-7 (Matt Porter 40, Laurie Whyte 3-22), Charlton Down 142-4 (M Brown 57, Aaron Oliver 3-24) beat Abbotsbury 127-4 (D Moss 39, Will Silk 1-18), Bere Regis 110-1 (Nick White 48, Manoz Gurung 0-9) beat Puddletown 108-8 (Chris Ascott 25no, Oran Davis 2-21), Abbotsbury 115-6 (Simon Pengelly 43, Alfie Fitzgerald 2-21) beat Hazelbury Bryan 106-7 (P Nana 30no, P Gordon 4-26), Churches United 109-6 (Dan Morris 33no, Chas Duerdoth 3-25) beat Frampton 104-5 (Pete Horne 52, Dave Morris 2-27)