ROLLS-ROYCE didn't need to win to close the gap on County League leaders Stainsby Hall.

Stainsby's second defeat of the season, at home to Nutbrook, left them with a precarious five-point lead at the top.

Unbeaten Royces also have a game in hand and closed in with a strong winning draw at Staveley Welfare.

Arfan Fazal and Muhammad Alvi both posted half-centuries and captain Naeem Akhtar added 42 as Royces recovered from 24-4 to reach 207-8.

In reply, Staveley lost Australian Ben Peake to the second ball of the innings from Akhtar and were then completeley tied down.

Akhtar proved even more mean with the ball than usual as he bowled 13 overs for only 10 runs, adding another wicket.

Kashif Hussain and Akhtar Shafiq were not much more expensive, each taking 2-19, from 11 and 13 overs respectively.

But neither were Staveley in grave danger of losing and they closed on 117-7, Royces taking 17 points from the game.

Stainsby's batting let them down against Nutbrook, who batted first and made 192-9, with Richard Cutts top-scoring on 38 not out.

South African David Smyth took four wickets but a three-ball duck for him set Stainsby's innings back, after Tom White had also fallen to the first ball of the reply.

Alan Worth made 44 in even time for the home side but, with Carl Pengelly taking 5-50, the innings slid away to 161 all out in the 40th over.

Rolleston were the only other winners in the division on Saturday, after Michael James' 109 pointed them towards 242-9 against bottom club Shipley Hall.

It is turning into a difficult season for Shipley, who have yet to win, and they were never likely to in this one, as Rolleston's Pakistani fast bowler Rizwan Akbar took 5-32 and was supported by Steve Scrimshaw's 3-48 in a total of 156 all out.

Stephen Walker top scored for Shipley with 55.

Swarkestone would have been able to gain some ground on the leaders if they could have knocked off the 188-8 set by Denby.

Jonny Guthrie hit 61 in reply but spinners Steve Bullock (4-43) and Bavesh Patel (3-24) held them back and they finished 14 runs short on 174-9.

Clifton are also still without a win after being relegated last season but they had the better of a draw at Matlock, scoring 215-7, in which Will Wilson made 60, then holding the home side to 129-7.

Clifton skipper Simon Moore's mean spell of 3-27 from 15 overs did the most to stifle Matlock.

Aston on Trent's 192-9, in which Haq Nawaz and Zahid Mansoor both passed 50, was enough for a winning draw at home to Marehay, who could only muster 171-8 in reply, veteran Neil Sparham scoring 44.

Clay Cross won well at South Wingfield to go 20 points clear in Division 2N, Sunil Bhatt hitting 99 in their 232-7, while Jon Branson and Dave Greaves each took four wickets as South Wingfield were bowled out for 169.

Shaun Polley hit 85 not out as Division 2S leaders Sawley & Long Eaton Park scored 237-5 and bowled Trentside out for 134 to stretch their lead.

Barry White took 4-18 for Sawley.