Bartram claimed three wickets to restrict the home innings and then scored a valuable 49 to help rescue the reply following a shaky start.

Uppingham can go top if they defeat Barnack at Newtown Road this weekend with leaders Market Deeping not having a match.

The Rutlanders made the trip to The Fens without four of their main players, who were unavailable due to holidays.

This gave an opportunity for the younger players to gain experience at a higher level of cricket and they grasped the mettle.

March made a good start with Seymour making 42 and Wright 22. Young Jamie Binley took 2-34 in eight overs and Bartram came on first change to claim 3-26 in his 12 overs to slow down the run rate.

Skipper Michael Beaver had his first bowl of the Rutland League season and returned a useful 2-43 from eight overs.

Scott Green also weighed in with 2-20 in five overs, although March batsmen Devenish (36) and Slack (34) kept the scoreboard ticking over. The ground fielding was of a high standard from Uppingham, who restricted their hosts to 168-9 in their 45 overs.

Uppingham were on the back foot early in their reply and were left reeling at 13-3 after nine overs with Dumford, Murray and Bennett all back in the pavilion.

Town struggled to cope with the accuracy of Seymour (4-27) and Ringham (3-32) throughout the innings.

Adi Salt (42) and Bartram put the visitors back on course with a stand of 94 for the fourth wicket.

Binley (15) and Moldon (21 not out) then saw Uppingham home in the 44th over with a couple of boundaries to ease the nerves.

The Rutlanders are eyeing an immediate return to the top flight but five of their six remaining games are away from Newtown Road.

No doubt about the man of the match in Oakham's Division 3 win over Kings Keys - all-rounder Raju Sharma claimed 6-39 with the ball and then whacked a half-century to set up a seven-wicket success.

Sharma's efforts in his superb 12-over spell were backed up by James Pepperdine (2-37) and some accurate bowling from Miles Weber and Bob Inchley. Young Charlie Muzzlewhite picked up a wicket as well to leave Kings Keys all out for 169 with more than four overs left to bowl.

Oakham's reply was anchored by talented young opener Fabian Taylor who remained 47 not out as the target was reached.

Sharma's 55 included eight fours and a six while James Booth struck a violent 39, with four balls lofted over the ropes plus another two boundaries. Oakham, who have no match this weekend, remain at the top.

Empingham enjoyed a 55-run victory at home to Division 4 high-fliers S&L Corby. The Rutlanders posted a decent 223-8 in their 45 overs thanks to consistent scoring down the order. Cockburn top-scored with 44 and opener Tom Cooper contributed 34. Skipper Rob McKevitt and Dave Lambert both made 22.

Lee Smith and David Alderson each claimed a brace of wickets for the visitors.

McKevitt led from the front in the reply, claiming 4-47 in his nine overs to help keep the Corby club down to 168.

There were two wickets apiece for Lambert and Naylor while James McGeown topped the S&L batting effort with 31.