SETBACKS for Ludlow CC’s first and third teams at the weekend leave both sides uncomfortably near the relegation zones of their respective divisions as the Shropshire League campaign enters its final – rain affected – strait.

In fact the wet weather probably came to the rescue of Ruel Brathwaite’s first team at the weekend, forcing an abandonment halfway through a reply that was stuttering at 70 for two as the hosts tried to chase a daunting looking 234 for seven by Wem.

The eight batting and bowling points gleaned from the match leave Ludlow 32 points above the Premier Division’s bottom two which is, coincidentally, the same safety margin the 2nds enjoy after an eight-wicket reverse at Acton Reynald on Saturday, with the visitors bowled for 150 in the Division Two 2nd XI competition.

The 3rds had more joy, in Division Two,bowling out visitors Shrewsbury 3rds before knocking them off for two wickets.

Bishops Castle could be relegated from Division Two at the weekend if second-from-bottom Wheaton Aston can claim a maximum-points win at home to Lilleshall and they reach fewer than five league points at Montgomery. Castle were bowled for 68 at home to Ellesmere in a ten-wicket defeat.

Church Stretton lost by the same margin at home to Harpers in Division Three, Corvedale lost by two wickets at Trysull & Seisdon in Division Four and the concession of their 2nd team fixture at home to Iscoed & Fenns Back leaves the side 79 points adrift at the foot of the Division Three 2nd XI table.