Last day heartbreak for Newtown II

It was last day heartbreak for Newtown II who missed out on promotion from Shropshire Division Four by just one point, following defeat at Frankton II.

Batting first, Newtown II could only muster 92 all out, but the bowlers made a fight of it, with the match going right to the end and the hosts getting across the line with just two wickets left.

Welshpool have secured promotion to Shropshire Division Two following last day drama that saw them defy the weather conditions and secure enough points to go up in second.

In a reduced 25-over game at St George’s II, Welshpool managed 117 all out, with Pat Davies making 45.

It proved to be just enough with the hosts ending on 108-8 with skipper Matt McWhinnie leading from the front, taking 4-27 to cap an exceptional season with the ball.

The 13 points were enough to leapfrog Whitchurch II and head up to Division Two with champions Wheaton Aston.

Division One champions Newtown signed off a brilliant season with a 56-run victory over Forton.

Crowned the week earlier, Newtown could relax knowing Premier League cricket was secured, and they raced to 208 from 40.1 overs. Ally Laird top scored with 47.

In response, Dave Laird took 3-22 as Forton were dismissed for just 152.

Montgomery’s strong second half to the season meant they finished Division Two in fourth, after their final match at Broseley was cancelled.

Guilsfield & Llandrinio finished a respectable eighth in their first season in Division Three. Their match with the champions, Wheaton Aston, was cancelled.

Llanidloes will rue their mid-season wobble after another big win on the road at Hodnet & Peplow, also in Division Four.

Rob Davies led the way with an unbeaten 110 as Llani marched to a first innings total of 265-7, before Adrian Foulkes took an incredible 8-22 from 10.5 overs to see the hosts off for just 76 runs.

Tom Corfield (66) and Elwyn Turner (62no) led Montgomery II to the lion’s share of the points in Division Six against Calverhall.

The pair guided Monty to 201-3, before Andrew Roscow (4-23) did the damage to restrict the visitors to 135-9 from their 40 overs.

The win left them in sixth, three spots ahead of Welshpool II who ended with a losing draw at home to Alberbury II.

Guilsfield & Llandrinio II’s season ended with a cancellation at Cae Glas II, leaving them seventh in the Division Seven table.

With two teams promoted and no relegations this summer, local clubs will look back at a largely successful summer, and one or two wondering what might have been.