Agonising defeats for Welshpool sides

Welshpool have slipped down to third in the Mansfield Sports Group Shropshire Division Three following an exciting game at league leaders Trysull & Seisdon.

After being put into bat, Welshpool’s mid order veterans Russell Cadwallader (61) and Dale Evans (57) propelled them through to a decent score of 202-4.

But, despite 3-61 from opening bowler Mat McWhinnie, Pool fell to a seven-wicket defeat with two overs left.

Dave Anthony and Joe Monk combined to give Newtown a crushing victory in Division One.

Anthony took 5-25 and Monk claimed 3-17 as Newtown skittled struggling Chelmarsh out for 111, paving the way for John Anthony (66no) and Matt Knight (29) to see them through to a nine-wicket win.

Montgomery had a good go at chasing Knockin & Kinnerley’s 235-7, but fell 345 runs short after being bowled out in the final over. Aaron Ruff-Cock (47) and Sam Williams (43) had led the Monty run chase. 

It was Guilsfield & Llandrinio’s strongest showing of the season as they secured the lion’s share of the points to lift out of the bottom two in Division Four.

After being put into bat by a youthful Bridgnorth III, openers David Williams (29) and Dave Lewis (27) laid some solid foundations for Duncan Todd (63), Steve Griffiths (41) and then a swashbuckling 31 (from 13 balls) from Jordan Evans to build on.

By tea, they had reached 200-4, but could they bowl a team out for the first time this season to secure a full win? The answer was no, but the returning Allan Williams (3-27) and man-of-the-match Todd (3-28) restricted the visitors to 152-6 from their 40 overs.

Newtown II moved up to second in Division Five with a derby victory over Llanidloes who were dismissed for 128 with Lewis Swallow (46) top scoring. Sam Morris (4-18) and Evan Smout (4-13) were the chief destroyers.

Montgomery II continued their climb up Division Six with a commanding 70-run win over Coton Hall.

Electing to bat, Monty set 184-6 with Brian Corfield top scoring before the bowlers took control with wickets shared around for 24 well-earned points.

Match of the day was at Welshpool II who suffered an agonising one-wicket defeat against Pontesbury II.

Chris Proctor (49) and Pat Wilding (48) set Welshpool on their way to 180-5, but for once the bowlers couldn’t quite deliver victory, with the final wicket pairing seeing the visitors through in the 34^th over.