A RAPID response from Dan Loader and George Watts helped unbeaten leaders New Milton overcome an indifferent display with the bat to register a 67-run home win over Rowledge.

Milton made a bright enough start having been put in to bat by their visitors and steady scoring from James Haggaty (55) and Nick Park (35) kept the scoreboard ticking over at 129 for three.

But on the back of some tight bowling from Chris Yates (1-30), Alex Bloomfield (2-49) and David Lloyd (2-41) made headway against the home side’s middle order to restrict James Park’s team to a slender 187 for seven.

A quick start with the ball was needed and Loader (3-23) soon delivered with Lloyd dismissed for a single score courtesy of the first of three catches from wicketkeeper Ben Lawes.

Loader then saw off Tom Gleave for a duck with Rowledge on three runs before Watts (2-15) took out Bloomfield (three) and Nick Morant (11) to leave the visitors reeling on 19 for four.

Ian Metcalfe (36) briefly steadied the ship but Milton’s Nick Elliott (2-15) helped to skittle Rowledge for 120 after 38 overs.

Milton lead the way from Basingstoke & North Hants with both teams on five wins out of five.