Ross-on-Wye CC missed the opportunity to put daylight between themselves and the chasing pack in the Marches League Division Two promotion race as a rare off day saw Shropshire hosts Cleobury Mortimer win by nine wickets and leapfrog the Hedgehogs into 2nd place in the table.

Skipper Jack Donovan called correctly and chose to bat on a scorching afternoon but the early Ross batsmen struggled against the tight lines of the opening attack and openers Charlie Cole and Stu Mair along with Dom Asquith all failed to make double figures leaving Ross in early trouble at 17-3. In his first game of the season, Toby Hiram battled hard to regain the initiative and with Donovan racing to 22 in just eleven balls the Ross pair were just beginning to wrestle back the initiative but the loss of the skipper was quickly followed by Mike Jeffryes to put Ross back behind the game once more at 61-5. Wicket keeper Jim Lewis (24) and Hiram (41) added 40 for the sixth wicket but after they fell either side of the drinks break the innings quickly fell away and Ross were bowled out for just 112.

The total quickly looked way too small to defend as Cleobury set off at a gallop in pursuit of the victory target. Ross had a glimpse of a chance at 35-1 when Hiram bowled Evans for 22 but, despite Donovan trying five bowlers and a lot of playing and missing, this proved to be the only success and Cleobury completed a nine wicket victory with plenty of overs to spare.

The defeat sees Ross slip to third in the table but the Hedgehogs have a great incentive to bounce back to winning ways away at Presteigne this coming weekend. With the top two playing each other Ross know that a win will make for a very interesting looking league table at what will be the half way stage of the season.