BISHOPS Castle were unable to alleviate their relegation fears in Division Two of the Shropshire League as they slumped to a eight-wicket defeat at home to Hodnet, Peplow and Tibberton on Saturday.

Opener and wicketkeeper Thomas Moulder and Richard Fifield contributed useful totals of 41 and 44, respectively in the hosts’ innings but with 21 extras and Satch Norton the next highest scorer – with an unbeaten seven – the home side posted a less than daunting 130 for nine off their 40 overs.

Mid-table Hodnet knocked off the required runs with 13 overs to spare, Paul Moulder claiming both victims for 20 runs with Bishops Castle second from bottom and 64 points adrift of Wheaton Aston.

There was disappointment with the bat too for third division Church Stretton, who could muster only 123 all out at home to Chelmarsh, Gabriel-Diddy-Williams top-scoring with 20.

With the hosts bowled in 31.3 overs there was an early finish to the match as Chelmarsh knocked them off in 20.5 overs to finish with 127 for three as opener Connor Glendinning hit an unbeaten 60.

Corvedale suffered a similar fate at Guilsfield in Division Four, posting 177 all out from 34 overs before their hosts knocked them off – albeit for the loss of seven wickets – in 33.5 overs.

And Corvedale’s 2nds stay rooted to the bottom of the Division Three 2nd XI competition and 48 points adrift after again being forced to concede, this time a planned home fixture against Quatt.

Ludlow 2nds were skittled out for 58 at Broseley in the Division Two 2nd XI competition, chasing 255 for six and the 4ths lost at home to their Oswestry counterparts in Sunday Division Two, bowled out for 140 chasing 220 for nine.