STALWART Dave Pullen says Knighton-on-Teme are getting more used to the standard of cricket in the GB Liners Marches League Division Two.

The villagers will be searching for a hat-trick of wins when they host Hereford-based Marden in the league this Saturday.

Mark Evans snapped up five wickets, skipper Matt James made 51 and Richard Grovesnor, 46 not out, as Knighton romped to a seven-wicket home success over eight-man Weobley last weekend.

Dave Pullen said: “It was nice to have picked up back-to-back wins. After a couple of defeats, it’s nice to be back on form. We are expecting tough opposition from Marden this Saturday.”

Dave Pullen, who scores the book, will be missing for this weekend’s match along with half-brother John Griffiths and sons Dan and Kai, because his daughter is getting married.

But he said: “We should still have a good side because Jack Brain should be available and Richard Powell should be able to play.”

Knighton made light work of seeing off the challenge of a depleted Weobley, who were put into bat.

Weobley started off well before Evans (5-44) and Griffiths (2-13) ripped through the visitors’ batting line-up.

Zax Canning made 45 and Dixon, 27,but Hamer (11) was the only other Marden batsman to reach double figures. Marden were shot out for just 106 in 32 overs.

In reply, Knighton made a disastrous start and were soon 3-1 and then 4-2.

Evans was dismissed first ball and then Humphries was caught in the slips for a duck.

However, a third-wicket stand between James and Grosvenor took the hosts to the brink of victory.

James was eventually stumped before Knighton reached their victory target in the 23rd over.

Pullen said “We were in the pub by 6.30pm, so that was nice. But Weobley appear to be struggling - they only had eight players. I looked in the book at the previous match and they only had nine men.”