Newtown beat title chasers

It’s taken them time to find their rhythm, but Newtown are becoming a genuine force in the Shropshire Premier League after beating title chasing Madeley at the weekend.

The batsmen have hit form, with Ryan Davies (56) producing another decent knock as he helped to steer his side through to 227-6, with Tom Anderson adding a useful unbeaten 38.

Dave Anthony and Ally Laird then took centre stage with four wickets each to reduce the visitors to 199 all out and ease Newtown’s relegation worries.

Patrick Davies smashed 87, and skipper Russell Cadwallader added 40, as Welshpool won at Condover to move above them and into the Division One mid-table.

The pair pushed Welshpool towards a whopping 301-7 from their 40 overs, thanks also to a welcome 69 extras.

Joe Monk then led the reply, taking 4-40 as Welshpool reduced their hosts to 158 all out.

Alex Bromley took his inaugural first team five-wicket haul to drive Montgomery to an 89-run victory against Wellington III in Division Two.

Bromley finished with figures of 5-42 to dismiss Wellington for 129 – a solid 89 runs short of the 218-7 target posted by Montgomery.

Having won the toss captain Sam Williams elected to bat first and it proved to be the right decision with Andrew Barker (71) and Ieuan Griffiths (58) helping Montgomery to post 218-7. The victory leaves Montgomery just 41 points behind Shropshire Division Two leaders Ellesmere after the Meresiders were unexpectedly beaten by 27 runs at Hodnet, Peplow and Tibberton.

Guilsfield’s Division Four promotion challenge is back on track, following a dramatic victory at Quayside.

After being set 167 to chase, Guilsfield looked in trouble at 100-6, but Gary West (36no) joined Dave Lewis (51no) at the crease to secure what had looked like an unlikely victory earlier in the reply.

In the Reserve Divisions, Montgomery II lost by five wickets in their key relegation battle with Wellington Fourths in Division One.

The Lymore club went into the interval full of confidence having posted 183 but the visiting team knocked off the winning runs in the 42nd over with five wickets in hand.

Jonathan Williams top scored for Montgomery with 46, but the defeat leaves them bottom, three points behind Knockin and Kinnerley who they face in a crunch tie at home this Saturday.

Despite a knock of 70 from opener Dai Brown, Newtown II suffered defeat at the hands of Madeley II in Division Two. Newtown posted 206-5, which turned into a comfortable chase for the hosts who lost just two wickets.