It was very nearly a Grand Slam!

Newtown returned to winning ways with a superb all round Shropshire Premier League performance at Broseley.

Newtown’s decision to bowl paid off with Ally Laird (3-40) a major factor in the hosts being restricted to 141-7 from their 50 overs.

The openers then delivered with Steve Davies (78) and Tom Goodman (30) building the foundations to secure a comfortable seven-wicket win in the 37^th over to move closer to third-placed Broseley in the chasing pack.

There were wins for Welshpool and Montgomery on a glorious day for local cricket in Shropshire Division One.

Welshpool moved to fourth after chasing down Wroxeter’s 207-8 with Peter Davies and Tom Anderson taking three wickets each.

In reply, Anderson (79no) and opener Paul Chapman (73) were in imperious form to guide Welshpool home in the 42^nd over with just three wickets lost.

Montgomery grabbed a morale boosting victory over Forton to leap frog them out of the bottom two. Tim Davies (33) top scored as Montgomery were dismissed for 138 in the 45^th over.

But then Aaron Ruff-Cock stole the show by taking 5-7 from five overs as the Shropshire side crumbled for 64 in reply.

In the Division Four Montgomeryshire derby, Guilsfield took the honours to move fourth in the league. William Denham hit 65 to boost Llanidloes through to 143-5 from their 35 overs, before Sam Birch (49no) and Dave Harris (45) steered Guilsfield to a seven-wicket win in the 32^nd over.

Meanwhile, in the Reserve Divisions, Montgomery II continued their promising Division Two form after reducing Bomere Heath II to 110 all out. David Jones took 4-24. In reply Tom Corfield made 41 as they came home with eight wickets to spare to go fourth.

Newtown II whittled Condover out for 89 thanks to 4-8 from Sam Morris and 3-37 from Ryan Blayney. Chris Bound hit 36 in reply for the seven-wicket win.

A winning draw for Welshpool II in Reserve Division Three completed an exceptional day for the local sides. Batting first, Pool posted a respectable 211-8 thanks to a superb 118 not out from opener Nick Davies. Following a mid-table collapse, Acton Reynald managed to hold out for 153-7 despite the best efforts of Jake Evans (3-32).