Anthony leads the way as Newtown hit form

Opener John Anthony hit a near run-a-ball 69 as Newtown continued their decent early season form to open up a gap at the top of MSG Shropshire Division One.

Anthony’s contribution propelled a stuttering Newtown to 133 all out in the 43^rd over on a day where runs were hard to come by.

In reply, hosts Shifnal II were put to the sword by Tom Anderson (4-36) who was well backed up by his Newtown bowlers with Shifnal dismissed for 114.

Welshpool’s Division Three match at Church Aston was cancelled and Montgomery came up short at Oswestry II, chasing 175.

Alex Bromley (4-33) and Charlie Kinsey (3-32) did the damage with the ball, but the batsmen soon fell off the pace in reply, despite Andrew Barker’s 38, to eventually lose by 33 runs.

It wasn’t to be for Guilsfield & Llandrinio who ended 40 runs short in their pursuit of Wheaton Aston’s 187-6 at the LHG Oval in Division Four.

Dave Jones (2-35) and Andy Pugh (2-26) were the main wicket takers as the promotion favourites rattled up a decent target.

Steve Griffiths (34) and Duncan Todd (31) offered strong mid-order resistance in response, but a late collapse saw them finish on 147, and slip to second in the league.

Llanidloes have continued their swashbuckling start to the Division Five season with victory over newcomers Priorslee.

Spinner Adrian Foulkes led the charge with 4-33 as the visitors were dismissed for 113, allowing Will Denham (40) and Rob Davies (40) to make short work of the reply for an eight-wicket win to stay top.

Newtown II suffered a disappointing defeat at home to promotion candidates Wellington IV after being dismissed for 72, with Danny Foulkes scoring 37. Jonathon Davies took four wickets to do his bit to slow the visitor’s march to a three-wicket victory.

Welshpool II’s Division Six campaign is gathering momentum after an impressive seven wicket-win over Ludlow II who made 113-8. Ryan Preston’s 55 ensured the response went to plan for a convincing victory. Montgomery II suffered a seven-wicket defeat at the hands of Cound II.

Rupert Shingler rolled back the years to smash 45 to set Guilsfield II on a dramatic winning trail that opens up a lead at the top of Division Eight.

It was a thriller at Chirk 2nds, with Shingler’s knock seeing them through to 152-7, boosted by a lovely cameo from teenager Finley Hunter who was unbeaten on 20.

It was edge-of-the-seat stuff in the reply, but Hunter kept his nerve with some brilliant bowling to ensure that our hosts ended three runs short on 149. He finished with 2-7, and there were a pair of wickets each for Garry Foster, Dave Court and Chris Flynn.