Lordswood's Chris Vernon pushes forward against Bexley's former Kent player Min Patel on Saturday Picture: Steve Crispe

Rain had a major influence on events at the top of the Shepherd Neame Kent League Premier Division on Saturday.

Leaders Lordswood ran out time in their bid to run up their fifth win in seven games at home to Bexley, while the match between second-placed Hartley and third-placed Sevenoaks Vine was washed out without a ball being bowled.

Bexley invited their hosts to bat and it proved a good decision as wickets fell at regular intervals. But opener Chris Vernon played a vital anchor role, scoring 72 as Lordswood struggled to 169 all out with Ian Mobey and Henry Pickering picking up three wickets apiece.

Bexley, however, then found batting even more difficult and were staring defeat in the face at 64-8 before a stubborn partnership of 26 between Ian Mobey and Jason Benn denied Lordswood 20 points as the overs ran out. Dan Masters took 3-28 and there were two wickets apiece for Jack Laraman and Chris Piesley.

Another 'incomplete' result due to rain came at the Rectory Field where Blackheath were hosting The Mote. The Maidstone side struggled to 134 all out against an accurate Blackheath attack, with James Marriott top-scoring on 42 and James Hands claiming 4-41.

But rain meant that Blackheath were only left with 23 overs to chase down their target and when Kenny George (4-36) helped to reduce Blackheath to 55-5 the game was finely balanced. Jahid Ahmed raised Blackheath's hopes with a quick 38 but they eventually finished on 109-7.

Bickley Park earned a much-needed six-wicket win at home to Tunbridge Wells. After putting in the visitors, Barry Hooper (5-51) bowled with good pace as Wells were bowled out for 175. Geoff Paulsen top scored with 53. A long rain interruption meant that Bickley only had 40 overs to chase down their target but a solid 39 from Paul Clinton and swift contributions from Phil Browning (36) and Ben Fulton (35) saw Bickley reach their target with four balls to spare.

The game between Sibton Park and Bromley was reduced to 35-overs-a-side because of a wet start. Invited to bat, Bromley were soon in trouble against Andu Allon (4-43), Steven Rowe (3-47), and Sam Newman (3-41), but then a 92-run eight-wicket stand between Miguel Barbosa (51) and Ricaldo Anderson (54) enabled them to recover to 156 all out.

Predictably, bottom-of-the-table Sibton Park also found batting difficult as Matt Dennington (5-42) tore through their top order. Sibton were in big trouble at 77-7 but Simon Knight dug in and his unbeaten 27 saved the day as Sibton finished on 119-9. Bromley had to be content with the maximum points for a winning draw.