11th victory of the summer for Newport as Atherton makes a 100
Leaders Newport were made to fight all the way for their 11th victory of the summer by plucky Bomere Heath.
The lowly visitors managed 255-5 in their 50 overs thanks to strong batting displays from opener Llyr Thomas (56) and Charles Wigley (71 not out).
Henry Dawson also chipped in with 71 from the middle order as the Newport bowlers endured a rare afternoon toiling in the field.
But the Audley Avenue men also made it look easy with the bat with opener Paul Furniss knocking off 71 to get his side on their way.
Then Craig Atherton (100 not out) ripped loose, hitting 13 boundaries and guiding Newport over the line with five wickets to spare.
Ludlow and South Shropshire moved into second place after a four-wicket win over Frankton.
Jason Van Loggrenberg was a thorn in the flesh of the visiting batsmen as he picked up a six-wicket haul.
But Tom Welti (80) and Ian Whitticase (46) put on 134 for the second wicket and with Tom Wilkie (46 not out) maintaining the run rate Frankton were able to post a useful 254 all out.
It needed lower-order contributions from Ian Simmons (66) and Sam Edwards (41 not out ) to see the frontrunners home in the 50th over.
Meanwhile, St Georges dropped a place after suffering a five-wicket defeat against Reman Services.
Mitchell Hoof top scored with 64 in his side's 202-8 off 50 overs, but Reman's Craig Heath (88 not out) had the measure of the visitors' bowling and the Shrewsbury outfit cantered to their winning total in the 40th over.
