CORVEDALE could not resist the power of Iscoyd & Fenns Bank in Saturday’s 117-run defeat at The John Faulkner Ground.

The hosts were put in to bat with openers Liam O’Neill (33) and Tom Wynne (13) putting on 60 for the first wicket before Corvedale hit a purple patch with the ball.

Ross Mantle (2-41) took out the top two for the loss of one more run and Brian Williams (3-25) got stuck in to keep Iscoyd down to 78 for four but a middle-order surge soon decided the destiny of this Shropshire Division Three clash.

James Gresty embarked on an unbeaten 40 from 40 deliveries, which included six fours, while Tom Lea lashed five sixes to register 35 from just 14 balls.

Tom Beech then brought up an undefeated 60 alongside Gresty with nine boundaries of his own from 28 deliveries and Iscoyd declared at 223 for five with the sixth-wicket partnership having racked up 105.

Williams (20) and Sher Muhammad Zahid (28) did their best to dig in but Corvedale never looked likely to create enough momentum to trouble their opponents. Lea (4-15) had the best bowling figures as the visitors eventually succumbed at 106 all out.

In Division Two, Church Stretton battled to a losing draw at Wellington III.

Richard Benting (56) and Dan Pitchford (21) were the top scorers but the efforts of Keith Yapp (4-25) kept the score down with Gabriel Williams (2-21) tidying up the tail as the hosts were dismissed for 137.

Andrew Chapman (27) scored steadily but single-figures dismissals killed off Stretton’s push before Todd Cornehls rattled off 21 to help ensure the visitors finished on 89 for six.

Elsewhere, Bishop’s Castle’s home clash with Shrewsbury III was abandoned due to rain but the seconds claimed a 58-run win at Beacon III in Division Three 2nd XI.

Tom Howard (34) and Simon Palmer (27) were the only significant scorers for a Castle side dismissed for 103. Tom Simpson, aged 14, took two wickets for eight runs for the hosts with the support of Keith Martindale (3-24) also key.

However, Beacon could not muster much of a fight with the bat with Chris Irving (2-10) taking out opener Gary Griffiths with the first ball.

Steve Reese (17) provided the only bit of fight as Castle’s Paul Moulder took four wickets for six runs, while Palmer (3-9) secured maidens from half of his eight overs. Beacon were wiped out for 45.

James Manley was Cleobury Mortimer’s hero in a 177-run walloping of Eastnor III, scoring an unbeaten 123 and then taking four wickets for 37 runs. Cleobury ended on 255 for six with Eastnor limited to 78. Knighton-on-Teme’s trip to Presteigne was abandoned due to rain.

Craig Massey (24) and Ed Riley (37) scored more than a run per ball with Matthew Porter (61*) top scoring as Ludlow IV beat Pontesbury III by 95 runs on Sunday.

Ludlow registered 182 for seven with Riley (3-10) helping to restrict Pontesbury to 87.