I'ANSON Cup front- runners Puttenham and Dogmersfield both secured maximum points against teams from the relegation zone.

Fernhurst, with an under-strength attack, paid dearly for allowing Neil Shirley and Eddie Smith three lives each. Both batsmen made them pay, plundering runs at will as they raced to three figures. Smith reached his 100 off 105 balls, having sprayed boundaries to all parts of the ground, while Shirley brought up his ton in the 40th over after a series of violent blows, enabling Nic Hindle to declare at 241-3 after 40 overs.

Fernhurst's hopes of a draw faded when Eddie Smith removed Mike Allen's leg-stump with a lightning yorker. Only Raleigh was able to cope as the young paceman whipped out the top order. After some middle-order resistance, led by Ian Eden, Fernhurst collapsed to off-spinner Bayliss and were all out for 104.

Puttenham got off to a flying start, having been asked to bat by bottom-of-the-table Thursley, and when the first wicket fell with the score on 61, Matt Cook had already scored 40. He went on to make 50, but fell to Nick Cozens who bowled the first four batsmen and finished the match with excellent figures of 8 for 55, but not before the home side had put up a score of 187 all out in 41 overs.

Thursley's only serious resistance to the Puttenham attack came from G Rees and Lowry who took the score to 61-3. But the next seven wickets fell for only 13 runs as Thursley slumped to 74 all out. Adrian Beagley did most of the damage with 5 for 15 from 15 overs and Mark Budd chipped in with 3 for 15.

Grayshott just squeezed past Cranleigh SA in an exciting game. Asked to bat first, St Andrews were well placed at 70-2. But Greenwood had no sooner reached his fifty than he was dismissed by debutant Ollie Roberts who bowled a tidy spell. Thereafter, only Samways put up much resistance as Lindsey-Clark and Richards roared through the tail, and the home side were all out for 138.

But Cranleigh were quick out of the blocks when Grayshott replied and with Ketley and James wreaking havoc, the visitors were reduced to 40-5 and then 70-7.

However, the innings was single-handedly saved by Phil Judge (39). Mark Richards and Ollie Roberts provided a sting in the tail and finally Roberts father and son saw Grayshott home in a gripping finish. St Andrews were left to rue five dropped catches.

The Bourne continued their descent down the table as Lindford picked up eight precious points to ease their relegation fears. The visitors batted first at a baking Broxhead ground and although openers Sale and Woods put on 48 runs, it took them 22 overs against the extreme accuracy of Waller and Copplestone. With the batsmen under pressure, Trevor Lee picked up 6 for 41 from 14 overs of spin, and The Bourne laboured to 132-9 in the full 48 overs.

Lindford lost a wicket in the first over, but managed to stay just ahead of the run-rate. Cole and Collyer bowled well, but a very responsible knock from Copplestone, plus a Clement cameo, saw Lindford to a vital three-wicket victory.

An aggressive hundred by John Morrison won the match for Wood Street after Headley had batted 48 overs for their total of 151-6. Although Alan Rooney (57) and Armstrong added 61 for the second wicket, Headley were always kept in check by Haymon who, again bowling unchanged, extracted bounce and turn to take 3 for 44 in 24 overs.

Headley had a depleted attack, but Wood Street started slowly and the run-rate only took off when Morrison laid into the spin of Arend. Despite some fine bowling by Downham, Morrison could not be contained and his hard- hitting 106 not out (Howard was next highest scorer with 21) clinched victory with an over to spare.

Frensham leapfrogged Tilford into fourth place after beating their old rivals on the Green. Put in to bat, Tilford, despite a sound opening stand of 45 between Wilson and Johnstone, were contained to 157 off 46 overs. Shafy provided some fireworks before being well caught by skipper Page off Ray Clarke who, shouldering the work-load, took 3 for 75 off 23 overs.

His nagging accuracy helped Ben Maxwell claim 6 for 55 off 14 at the other end.

Frensham raced to 48 without loss, but the introduction of spin had an immediate effect and, at 61-4, Tilford were probably slight favourites. However, opener Richard Chuter played a superbly measured innings and shared good parnerships with Charman and Page to see his side home with five overs to spare.

Chuter's unbeaten 76 contained 58 in boundaries and was a perfect blend of defence and aggression.