Skipper Bryan Jones hailed Wem’s young guns – after steering his side to the top of the Marston’s Shropshire Premier League.

The north Shropshire side enjoyed a 98-run victory at home to Newtown on Saturday.

And that – coupled with Madeley’s narrow defeat at Broseley – was enough for Wem to take over on top.

Jones led by example with a fine knock of 69 as his side registered 207-7, Will Savage adding 49 and Chris Peel 35.

Newtown were dismissed for 109, with Wem’s young attack of Danny Cohen, Josh Gough and Jim Ashley wreaking havoc. Gough came out with “freakish” figures of 4-4.

“It was a good, all-round performance,” said Jones. “We put a reasonable score together and all the bowlers contributed, too.

“We have three youngsters who are all going to be very good bowlers. They don’t realise how good they are, and they could be 75 per cent better by the end of the season.

“Stuart Raine deserves a lot of credit, too. He’s not had a lot of luck with wickets but he’s bowling incredibly well.

“He hasn’t gone for many, and if you keep it tight at one end then you’ll invariably get wickets at the other.”

Madeley came unstuck away at Broseley as they failed to chase a target of 195.

Richard Parker (61) and Michael Pearson (49) put on 99 for the second wicket, helping to lay a solid base. Jonathan Prince took 5-52 for the visitors.

Daunting

Stephen Pugh put on 48 in Madeley’s reply, but ran out of partners. Prince hit 32 down the order, but the Telford side got behind the run-rate and were all out for 177 with a ball of the innings left.

Newport missed the chance to go second as they were beaten by 80 runs at Quatt.

The south Shropshire side posted a daunting 264-6, with skipper Adrian Evans and Eugene McCarney putting on 77 for the first wicket.

Evans was finally out for 48, but Dave Street hit 59 in 61 balls at No 4, while Terry Hughes struck an unbeaten 43 from just 33 balls.

Aditya Jain led Newport’s reply with 61 from 44 balls, but the men from Audley Avenue could not keep up with Quatt’s hot pace.

James Board did add 40 and hit the only six of the innings, but figures of 4-38 from Barry Jones and 3-39 from Jimmy Arbuckle contributed to Newport’s eventual dismissal with a ball to spare.

The last three wickets all fell with the score on 184 – Edward Parton the last man out to seal the Fishes’ fate when he was stumped by Nathan Hakeman off the bowling of Craig Jones.

Much Wenlock seized the chance to go third, winning a low scoring game at home to Shelton.

Shailendra Sengar took 5-25 and Gavin Daniels 4-25 as Shelton were bowled out for just 57. Stuart Walters then top scored with 28 as Wenlock reached their target for the loss of four wickets.

By CHRIS HUDSON