Worfield continued their excellent start to the FBC Manby Bowdler season, this time by beating Ellesmere by nine wickets.

Ellesmere won the toss, and elected to bat, a decision which they may have regretted once Manny Singh had made early inroads with 3-20.

A bad week then got worse for the Lakelanders – having lost two key players in Gary Darlington and Paul Higginson to Knockin, they crumpled to 107 all out in 35 overs, as Gareth Lanchbury mopped up the tail, taking 3-12.

Only Andy Rose with a stoic 42 could gain any satisfaction. Worfield took 21.1 overs to knock off the runs, Tom Pickerill scoring 49 not out with Simon Aucott making 41.

Trysull & Seisdon are keeping Worfield company at the top with their third consecutive win, this time at home against Pontesbury. Put in, Trysull scored at six per over before declaring on 240-7.

Lee Nightingale’s powerful hitting brought him 92, while skipper Mark Gilbert scored 47. For Pontesbury, Pete Atkinson took 4-33.

Trysull opened the attack with their two in-form bowlers – Andrew Newman and Matt Willder. Newman, fresh from his six wicket haul last week, took 5-48 from 15 overs, while Willder brought his own personal tally for the season to 13, taking 5-51, also from 15 overs as Pontesbury, were bowled out for 107. Howard Robinson offered some resistance with 31.

Llanidloes are still unbeaten after a 16-7 winning draw against Wroxeter.

Batting first, they scored 179-5, thanks to Dave Williams (58), Thomas Goodman (46), Andrew Evans (28) and Marc Hughes (20). Nick Bevan took 3-40 for the visitors.

Wroxeter made a solid start to their reply, with openers Paul Massey (37) and Alex Perry (27) laying a good base. They were hampered however by Simon Jones, who took 3-38 as their middle order collapsed, they were left well short of their target on 127-7, despite a late 26 from skipper Bevan.

Cound won for the second week in a row, enjoying a five wicket win at Lilleshall.

The home team were asked to bat first, and were soon in trouble on 29–3. Paul Bainbridge (33) and Oli Todd (23) added 42 for the fourth wicket before four wickets fell cheaply. Greg Munslow then hit a defiant 23 before he was struck over the eye by a rising ball and needed hospital treatment.

Lilleshall closed on 135 in the 44th over. Kevin Hamer (3-25) and Alex Johnson (3-36) were best for the visitors.

Side strain

The Lilleshall cause was further undermined when opening bowler, Dave Bicknell had to retire after eight deliveries with a side strain. Chris Hook (40), Graham Trow (23) and Matt Jones (21) took full advantage, and although Chris Airey took three wickets Cound got home in the 33rd over.

Alberbury had their first win of the season, an easy 110 run victory, at home to a below-par Frankton.

Opting to bat first, the home side scored 219-7, thanks mostly to Mark Jones’ 93, Charlie Bourne’s 51 and Richard Moolman’s 44.

Frankton skipper, Jordan Parry took 3-48. Frankton, already missing Shaun Davis, were further hampered by an injury to Nalaka de Silva, who was unable to bat, and the North Shropshire team were bowled out for 109 in the 28th over. Moolman enjoyed a fine match, taking 7-30. The only batsman to show real resistance was Rob Chappell with a half century.

Montgomery hosted bottom club Market Drayton, and emerged with a 17 – 5 winning draw. Rob Kinsey scored 39, Keith Griffiths 32 and Lee Davies 27 as the home team registered 175-7. For the visitors, Matthew Heffernan took 3-29.

Jesse Thompstone (44) and Paul Martin (39) brought the innings around, they were unable to raise a sustained challenge as they closed on 119 -7. Neil Tuffin finished with 4-17 from 15 overs, and Rob Yewdall 3-31.