BISHOP’S Castle were subjected to some consistent scoring before seeing their own momentum stifled in a 131-run Shropshire Division Two defeat at Pontesbury.

The hosts opted to bat and steadily built an impressive innings with Matthew Hartshorn (34), Gary Bromley (36) and Mike Bellamore (28) keeping the scoreboard ticking over.

Mark Lewis (47*) and Ryan Davies (27*) remained unbeaten at the end as Pontesbury finished with a flourish, registering 263 for nine in spite of Edgar Whately’s best efforts to tidy up the tail (4-46).

Bellamore (2-32) and Stephen Wilson (4-22) wasted no time in breaking through Castle’s resistance with Joe McKay (13), Whately (16), Jack Poulton (19*) and Jack Perry (16) unable to prevent the visitors being dismissed for 132 from 29 overs.

In Division Three, back-markers Corvedale put up a late fight but could not prevent a 93-run loss against Much Wenlock.

Matthew Green (81) and Richard Bill (98) put on 135 for the third wicket for the visitors with Shaun Pryce unbeaten on 38 when their innings finished on 301 for six.

Corvedale’s response got off to the worst possible start with Sher Muhammad Zahid dismissed for a duck when caught and bowled by Oliver Pygott (3-40).

Fellow opener Brian Williams quickly followed suit with four to his name when Peter Burton (3-37) saw him off.

Adrian Monteith (42), Lea Burton (21), Glyn Tipton (96) and Ali Hussain (23) put up a courageous fight but Corvedale were seen off for 208.

Chris Ammonds inspired a five-wicket success for Ludlow III, slicing through the lower order (4-23) to limit Harpers to 154.

Sam Roberts (23) and Richard Mapp (32) laid the foundations before Craig Massey (33*) and Ammonds (41*) completed the job.