BISHOP’S Castle slipped to third place in Division 2 of the FBC Manby Bowdler Shropshire County League after suffering their second defeat in three games when they went down by five wickets in a top-of-the-table clash at Ellesmere.

Ellesmere now share top-spot with Market Drayton, with Castle 13 points adrift.

Edgar Whately (23), Richard Plant (25) and Joe McKay (18) were the only Castle batsmen to resist the home attack of Graham Beardsmore (2-39), Alex Duncan (2-15) and Adam Huxley (3-42). Tom Davies wrapped the innings up with 2-0 off 14 balls.

Tom Moulder took an early wicket when Ellesmere batted, but steady contributions down the order saw the home side reach their target in the 28th over for the loss of five wickets.

Jack Perry took two wickets for Castle.

􀁪 The Church Stretton lastwicket pair had to play out the final 16 balls of the game to force a losing draw when they entertained Frankton 2nd in a bottom- of-the-table fixture.

In a fine individual performance, Martin Nichols took 6-70 when Frankton rattled up 204-7 in their 45 overs, but his colleagues were forced to hang on after he was dismissed for 68.

Sam Mor ris (21no) and Ed Smith were at the wicket at the end with Stretton on 150-9.

􀁪 Corvedale bowled home side Trysull & Seisdon out for just 98, 36 of which were extras, and then cruised to an eight-wicket win to keep them in the Division 3 title race.

Corvedale, who won the toss and elected to bowl first, soon had their tails up as wickets went down regularly.

Ed Riley (2-20) and Har ry Aldridge (2-16) created the early problems for Trysull. Ian Simmons (4-6) blew the tail away, while his brother Bryn claimed three catches and a stumping behind the wicket.

Joel Leversedge (27) and Ed Riley set the stage for Ian Simmons (37) to steer Corvedale home in the 17th over.

􀁪 Ludlow 3rd were restricted to 141-9 in their 40 over innings at Market Drayton 2nd, but their bowlers rescued them from a precarious position by bowling the home side out for 110 to gain a 31-run win in Division 5.

Mark Burgoyne (37) and Daniel Hillman (19) scored the runs in the first half of their innings, while Richard Powell (19) and David Hughes (26no) batted well towards the end.

Hughes (4-33) did the early damage with the ball, while Craig Simmons, Daniel Hillman and Justin Wheatley took two wickets each to complete the win with more than 10 overs to spare.

􀁪 Bishop’s Castle 2nd had to settle for a losing draw in Division 6 after visiting Forton 2nd had scored 185-8 at the Manor Ground before tea.

The home side finished on 118- 6.

Forton batted consistently down the order, but Josh Wall (4- 22) and George Raymond (2-27) prevented any of their batsman making a big score. Richard Whately (23), Peter Grif fiths (24no) and George Mellor (26) batted steadily for Castle.