Welshpool clinch title

Champagne corks were popping at Welshpool Cricket Club on Saturday night as the first team lifted the Wales and West Division title.

It came following a traumatic week for the club that saw the second string stripped of the Border title that they thought they had won last week.

An error meant one of their players wasn’t registered for an earlier game in the summer against Alberbury II, so that victory was overturned to hand Welshpool II their only defeat of the season, and the title to the border club instead.

But the first team weren’t to be side tracked. After being put in to bat by Newtown II, a strong mid-order 48 from Russell Cadwallader helped Welshpool through to 145-7 from 30 overs.

In-form Rob Anderson then took 3-11 to restrict the hosts to just 112-8 and start the celebrations for the visitors.

Llanidloes finished second, overcoming Guilsfield & Llandrinio in front of a big home crowd.

Despite a tight opening 14 overs from veterans Allan Williams and Rupert Shingler that spilled just 18 runs, William Denham (63) and Adrian Foulkes (40) accelerated the hosts to 162-6.

The visitors’ response was on track midway through, with opener David Williams (58) seeing them stand at 81-2 at one point, but Foulkes (4-20) stepped up to reduce them to 112 all out.

Bishop’s Castle ended the season with a flourish, and continued their run with a home victory over Montgomery II after setting a decent target of 165-6.

Opener Matthew Jones led the reply with 48, but there was not much support as the visitors ended well short on 102-6.

Welshpool II made up for their disappointment with a final day victory against Knockin & Kinnerley II.

They bounced back with a dominant win after dismissing their guests for just 52 on Saturday. Sam Cadwallader (4-7) and Harry Bowen (3-7) were the main wicket takers with Welshpool losing just two wickets on their way to a comfortable victory.

John Rees Division One winners Newtown finished their season in style, crushing Knockin & Kinnerley by 118 runs to end the season at the top with nine wins from 10 matches.

Opener Joe Monk (41), Sam Cooke (39) and Ricky Davies (35) set Newtown on the road to victory by helping to post 179-8 from their allotted 40 overs.

And it proved well out of reach as Tom Anderson 6-5 ripped through the hosts line-up.

Montgomery ended the season on a winning note at home to Cound to finish a respectable Shrewsbury and West Division Two season in joint third.

Aaron Ruff-Cock’s 68 helped his side set a target of 231-7, with Cound well off the pace in reply to end on 180-6.