TENBURY were subjected to a seven-wicket defeat as Bromsgrove III mustered greater powers of recovery in Saturday’s top-of-the-table tussle.

Put in to bat, the visitors wobbled at The Hedges Ground before Tom Pugh settled the nerves with 57 while stand-in skipper Aaron Morris contributed 23.

Tom Rawlings (45) and Mark Yarranton (30) showed strong form but those figures were too frequently punctuated by single figures from elsewhere.

Bromsgrove’s Henry Marshall (3-28), Matt Banham (3-43) and Maxwell Smith (2-34) were in relatively economic mode to limit Tenbury to 207 all out.

The wet weather saw the hosts handed a revised target of 182 from 37 overs and Tenbury gave themselves hope by building some good momentum with the ball.

Thomas Downing (7), skipper Paul Husbands (12) and Alistair Hickman (10) had their colours lowered by Marcus Griffiths (1-26), Jack Farrar (1-23) and Matthew Jones (1-34) respectively but the tide was about to turn.

Despite the best efforts of six Tenbury bowlers, Matthew Anderson (84*) and Harry Smith (38*) proved unbeatable in achieving 182 for three with more than six overs to spare.

Tenbury found themselves third in the table by the end of play as Hanley Castle & Upton (87 for four) beat fourth-placed West Malvern (86 all out) by six wickets.

Bromsgrove now have a 16-point lead at the top and 29-point advantage over Tenbury, who will look to regain lost ground when they host in-form Claverley at Penlu on Saturday.

Tenbury’s second string (150) managed a 34-run over Himbleton (116).