LUDLOW had to make do with fourth place in the Shropshire League after suffering a three-wicket defeat to champions Sentinel on the final day.

The tone was set when Ludlow were put in to bat and lost opener Sam Edwards to his first delivery and the home side struggled to recover.

Sam Alford (38) and Peter Griffiths (20) put up a fight but life was always going to be tough once George Cheshire tidied up the tail, taking three wickets in seven balls without conceding a single run.

David Laird (5-69) had been tormentor in chief before that with Ludlow limited to 127 all out.

Sentinel also found runs hard to come by but always looked in command with opener Malcolm Serplet (30) and Alex Johnson, who fired off 29 from 32 balls, guiding the standard bearers to 128 for seven.

Matthew Kennedy (3-54) and Griffiths (4-40) impressed with the ball for Ludlow.

Quatt ended up as runners-up following their 19-run win over Madeley, while Wem's shock nine-wicket thumping at lowly Bomere Heath signalled the end of their challenge for second.

Bishop’s Castle finished the season unbeaten in Division Two with a 91-run victory over Ellesmere.

The visitors to the Manor Ground halted their high-flying opponents on 156 but were wiped out for 65.

Church Stretton were sent packing for 52 with Sam Williams’s unbeaten 35 inspiring a comfortable seven-wicket success on the road for Montgomery.

In Reserve Division One, Ludlow’s seconds could only muster 163 for eight in pursuit of 223 for five declared away to their Sentinel counterparts at Albert Road.