Hampshire all-rounder Chris Wood made his Old Tauntonians & Romsey debut – but was unable to save his new club from a 53-run defeat by Southern Electric Premier League, Division 2 leaders Rowledge.

Left-arm medium-paceman Wood certainly did his best with the ball, taking 4-13 in ten overs.

But, when OTs were asked to chase down a Rowledge total of 175, Wood’s hopes of making an impact with the bat were dashed by a stunning gully catch and he was out for only four.

OTs never got going and were dismissed for 122.

A seventh defeat in eight games leaves them anchored to the SPL2 basement.

Chris Board (44), son of former Deanery batsman Nick Board, top scored for Rowledge after Wood had dismissed opener Nick Morrant (14) and skipper David Lloyd (31).

Rowledge slipped to 98-5, but Nick Taylor (30) helped them on their way before Wood and Pete Newman (2-37) wound up the innings.

But only Newman (26) made a fist of it at the top of the order as OTs lurched to 50-5 and eventually 122 all out.

Langley Manor lie 12 points above OTs after a 54-run defeat by Hartley Wintney, who now lie second behind Rowledge.

Half-centuries by Ari Kavelas (62) and Danny Plume (55) helped Hartley post 230.

Connor Browne (43) prospered at the start for Langley manor, whose prospects dipped as wickets fell.

Steve Harris (27), Craig Renders (26) and Hamish Blomfield (24) – who earlier took 3-22 scored middle-order runs, but Tommy Flanders’ spell of 4-41 proved decisive as the Manor fell to 176 all out.

Sparsholt got the better of Portsmouth in a high scoring affair on Southsea seafront, where Lewis Dunford (71) top scored for the visitors.

Portsmouth got into a promising position at 175-4, but three-wicket returns by Mike Haworth and David Gough saw the hosts restricted to 245-9.

Paultons drilled a spoke into Calmore Sports’ Division 2 promotion prospects with a five-wicket victory at Whitemoor Lane.

They took their lead from two early strikes by Tony Richman (2-25), which accounted for Mark Lavelle and Darren Vann, and restricted Calmore to 178-8.

Ben Perry (48), Ben Johns (32) and Tom Pegler (28) top scored for Calmore, whose middle-order was ripped out by left-arm spinner Andy Denney (4-31).

Paultons were always ahead of the clock, with Stewart Magee (45) and Lee Wateridge (39) providing an 89-run start, which Rob O’Brien (30) improved upon.

Totton & Eling II lie comfortably above the relegation drop zone despite a seven-wicket beating at Havant, who bowled them out for 112.

Havant won in 17.3 overs, with Steve Dean cracking 38 not out.