A MERE eight points separate the top six clubs in ECB Southern Electric Premier League Division 1 after seven rounds of matches.

Top pair BAT Sports and Havant share the lead with an average of 16.50 points per game - the 2003 champions are marginally ahead on run rate - but the sixth placed Hampshire Academy are only a handful of bonus points behind.

Havant's bid to retain the outright leadership was foiled by South Wilts, who recovered from an uncertain 27-3 to record a fine 13-run victory at Havant Park.

Chasing a fourth successive win, South Wilts appeared all at sea after David Wade (2-39) and James Ingram rushed Jason Laney, Jamie Glasson and Eddie Abel back to the pavilion inside the opening half-hour.

But skipper Rob Wade, with a battling 77, and Jo Cranch (39) retrieved the situation.

Richard Hindley (4-53) and Matt Cox (3-53) created inroads, but after the captain's departure, South African all-rounder Alan Kruger (41) lifted South Wilts to 233 all out.

The visitors were flying when Alex Senneck (4-60) quickly removed Paul Gover and Cox, but a near century partnership between Andy Perry (88) and Hindley (36) took Havant's reply to 112-3.

Perry and Simon James (35) put the South Wilts target under threat as Havant moved to 185-4.

But when the fifth-wicket pair were dismissed at 185 - Perry falling to a stunning slip catch by Laney - Havant's challenge petered out, with Kruger (3-62), Laney (2-34) and Senneck reducing the overnight leaders from 218-7 to 220 all out.

Basement boys Old Tauntonians & Romsey, skittled for 87 by South Wilts a week earlier, produced a much improved performance against Portsmouth - but still lost by six wickets.

They must have felt another batting collapse was imminent when Wayne Lockey fell for one, but Jodey Brown and Paul Longland (29) rebuilt the situation.

They added 73 before Longland was caught off Eastern Province all-rounder Carl Bradfield, while Scott Shirley took the total past the 100 mark.

Brown (68) eased OT's to 157-3, but when the captain became the first of three scalps for Lee Savident (3-38), it was left to Max Smith (61no) to help his side post 203-8.

Jeremy Ord (2-58) trapped Sam Lavery leg before early on, but Bradfield remained a constant thorn in OT's side.

Ben Thane and Michael Barnes followed cheaply, but Bradfield (81) scored his runs out of 129-4 before Lee Savident (59 no) and Warren Espey (23 no) sealed OT's fate.

Andover are breathing down the necks of the joint leaders after trouncing Bashley (Rydal) by nine wickets at London Road.

Neil Thurgood (55) underpinned the Bashley innings, which dropped from 89-3 to 123-9.

Dean Woodhouse (3-41) and Spinner Jake Dean (3-37) did the damage for Andover, who coasted to a nine-wicket win which put them three points behind the joint pair.

Mark Miller, with an undefeated 66, dshared an unbroken century parntership with skipper Tony Radford who made 43 not out.