SAINTS edged closer to title rivals Peterborough after taking a maximum 30-point haul from their comprehensive win over Wollaston at Birchfield Road East on Saturday.
Leaders Peterborough were also winners over rock-bottom Horton House, but they could only take 25 points as they batted second, and that allowed Saints to close the gap at the top of the table to 33 points.
Saints put their recent woes behind them to post 237 for five, with all the batters making solid contributions, although the top scorers were Alec Swann with 44 and Jake Higginbotham with an unbeaten 51.
Wollaston were 62 for one in reply, but then spinner Richard Stemp took over, claiming six for 33 from 11.1 overs as Wollaston collapsed to 121 all out, Andy Oram doing his bit by taking three for 27.
Horton crumbled to defeat against Peterborough.
Things were looking good as Charlie MacDonnell (30) and Steven Jarvis (25) put on 55 for the first wicket for Horton, but once they were dismissed the wheels came off and the strugglers were rolled over for 112, Posh then cruising to victory with eight wickets to spare.
Old Northamptonians maintained their excellent form with a four-wicket win over Rushton.
Rushton did well to score 228 for eight, with Matthew White the pick of the bowlers taking three for 18, but ONs were more than a match for them as they replied with 229 for six thanks to 93 from skipper Tom Webb and 80 from George Arblaster.
Elsewhere, Brixworth had to hold on for a draw at Stony Stratford in a high-scoring clash.
Stony enjoyed themselves with the bat as they totalled 280 for eight, Mihir Choksi top-scoring with 79 and Colin Sibley and Ross Phipps both taking three wickets for Brixworth.
The villagers were never really in the hunt for the win, and in the end were hanging on at 229 for nine, with John Walter scoring a crucial 33 not out to seal a share of the spoils for his side.
Pick of the bowlers for Stony was Richard Scott who snared six for 48.
NCCC Academy had a bad day as they lost to Wellingborough by four wickets.
Marc Bell hit 92 and Palash Joshi 62 not out as the County youngsters made 213 for seven, but it wasn’t enough as Borough got home at 216 for six with almost five overs to spare despite the best efforts of Vicram Sohal who took three for 34.
In the other game, Finedon Dolben eased to a seven-wicket win over Burton Latimer.
Don’t miss Thursday’s Chron for your extensive NCL preview, plus all the results, main scorers, tables and fixtures for all 15 divisions.