STUDLEY were well placed to topple early season leaders Bedworth in the Warwickshire Premier Division when rain arrived to ruin matters.

That was after Studley had posted a testing target of 196 for nine to chase and then restricted Bedworth to 43 for two after 12.4 overs in reply when steady rain finally brought a halt.

Studley skipper Steve Rose said: "It would have been really interesting had the game continued and I would have certainly backed us as we were in a strong position at the time.

"Although Bedworth have got quite a small ground, 196 was a decent total in the conditions.

"The fact we'd already nipped out a couple of wickets in reply led me to believe we were really in the driving seat. But we bowled the last six to seven overs in drizzle that was only getting worse."

Jack Williams led Studley's scoring spree with 54, his second successive half century while Rose reeled off 31 before having to retire hurt after pulling his hamstring and now faces a race against time to be fit for this Saturday's home contest with Coleshill.

Jawaad Nazir and Stuart Harris both supplied a further 23 for Studley before strike bowler Luke Deeprose snapped up both Bedworth wickets to fall.

Rose added: "There's a real positive feel at Studley as both the Seconds and Thirds are doing really well at the moment which has given us real strength in depth."