STALWART Dave Pullen says Knighton-on-Teme shouldn’t reach for the panic button – despite suffering their second successive crushing defeat.

Knighton were shot out for just 99 but visiting Ledbury romped home for the loss of just one wicket in Saturday’s GB Liners Marches League Division Two battle.

“We had a very weak side,” conceded Pullen, who scored the match.

“John Griffiths is still struggling with a wrist injury, while Jack Brain was still away, while Tom Whistance and Richard Smith had to pull out due to a friend’s death.”

Pullen added: “It was our first home game of the season and the wicket was green. I am sure we will bounce back – we just need to put out a stronger team.”

Ledbury’s Steve Evans took a hat-trick, while Matt James (46), Mark Evans (12) and Arthur Smith (10) were Knighton’s leading lights.

James Brighton (41 not out) and Luke Ledbury (37 not out) took the visitors home to inflict a second defeat on Knighton in four completed matches.

Neighbouring Tenbury were thrashed by nine wickets at home to Stourport in the Worcestershire County League Division Three.

Mark Yarranton (22), Kier Sellars (15) and Dave Hunt (14) top scored in Tenbury’s 109 and then Spencer Colley (54 not out) and Ryan Delo (53 not out) swept Stourport to the target in the 21st over.

Spinner Ben Griffiths bagged 5-57 and Craig Shorter hit 92 in Cleobury Mortimer’s 79-run home defeat against Chaddesley , also in Division Three.

Despite the efforts of Griffiths, Dave Shorter (3-59) and Greg Shorter (2-66), the Redditch outfit piled up 243 all out.

Craig Shorter made a superb 92 but Mo Saddiq (6-39) and Waqar Ahmad (3-34) combined to rush out Cleobury for 164 in the 34th over.

There was also disappointment for the second strings of Tenbury and Cleobury who could not field teams for their respective league matches.

Tenbury 2nd conceded their 2nd XI Division Four trip to Old Hill 4th and Cleobury 2nd conceded their fixture at Halesowen 4th.

Corvedale suffered a 135-run defeat at Cae Glas in the Shropshire County League Division Two.

Brian Williams (3-32), Sher Zahid (2-23) and Dave Golightly (2-47) limited the hosts to 183-8 but only Steve Riley (10) reached double figures as Corvedale was skittled for 48.

Steve Morris (4-3) and Richard Powell (4-36) shone with the ball in Bishops Castle’s hard-fought draw against Shrewsbury 2nd.

In reply to Shrewsbury’s 143, Richard Powell (18 not out), James Aldridge (18) and Andrew Lewis (17), led Castle to 98-8.

Saif Khalid had a fine all-round display in Church Stretton’s draw with Acton Reynald in Division Three.

Khalid snapped up 3-36 as Reynald made 199-5, and he then hit 62 in Castle’s 151-7.

Tom Prince struck 61 as Ludlow 3rd had to settle for a draw at Bridgnorth 3rd in Division Four and Rob Hillman made 67 in Ludlow 4th’s draw against Broseley 2nd in 2nd XI Division Three.

Meanwhile, Ludlow’s Courtney Cooper took a wicket and made 18 runs in Shropshire Girls Under-15s win at Buckinghamshire on Sunday.