ANGUS McIntyre hit a magnificent 173 backed by 1st XI skipper Tony Laws with 109 as Ross-on-Wye CC made hay in the sunshine at Ledbury.

The visitors set a giant target of 364-5 off their 45 overs before skittling the hosts’ 2nd XI out for 101 in the Marches Division 2 clash.

Although reduced to 18-1 with the departure for four of Stuart Mair, McIntyre and Laws then formed an incredible 280-run partnership before the latter was bowled for 109 having hit 13 fours and two sixes (298-2).

McIntyre passed the 150-mark as he continued to punish the Ledbury attack, but fell just 27 runs shy of a double ton, bowled for 173 after smashing 24 fours and one six in a magnificent knock (343-3).

Three of the top four Ledbury batters then fell for ducks to Adam Parkes, with only fifth man Chris Ritchie with 55 making double figures as the Ross bowlers caused mayhem, dismissing the hosts 263 runs short of the target in 30 overs.

Parkes, who also ran out second man Steve Burgess for eight, finished with 3-21 off his five overs, while Ben Element took 3-22 off 9.3 overs and Josh Element 2-24 off 10 overs.

Chloe Tingle finished with 0-25 off six and also secured a run out, while there were catches for Jim Lewis, Thomas Edwards and Graham Howls.

The result leaves Ross second hot on the heels of leaders Hay-on-Wye.

In a local derby with Fownhope Strollers’ 2nds, the village side earned bragging rights over Ross 2nds with a four-wicket Division 3 win at The Park.

The Ross batters struggled from the off and were reduced to 29-5 at one point before recovering to post 106 all out in 23 overs, Luke Timewell top-scoring with 39 backed by Tim Cooper with 21.

Frankie Allan and Bradley Lucas took three wickets apiece, Nick Terry tow and Craig Cornish one.

Fownhope were 15-2 in reply after Timewell bowled Tim Jones for a duck, but third man Adam Evans with 43 and Chris Ling 16 not out saw them to 110-6 in 22 overs.

The villagers’ 1st XI lost another derby, though, beaten by six wickets by Wormelow at Fownhope Playing Fields in Division 1.

Richard Lerego scored 40, Ethan Lerego 30 and Mike Berry 23 before four successive ducks, three of them bowled by Luke Jones, saw Fownhope go from 145-4 to 148-8.

Strollers were all out for 165 in 41.3 overs, Jones finishing with four wickets, matched by Isaac Evans.

And in reply, Monty Kennerley with an unbeaten 79 and Archie Langford and David Thomas, both with 32, steered Wormelow to 166-4 in 35 overs, to leave them in fourth.

Division leaders Goodrich needed just 18 overs to chase down third-placed Woolhope’s 133 all out at Berryfield.

Jake Price hit 49 and Ben Park 23 for the hosts as Jack Lewis took three wickets, and Joe Provis, Jake Jarrett and Neil Price two apiece for Goodrich.

Andrew Brown with an unbeaten 31, Harry Porter with 28 and skipper Sam Griffiths with 24 then saw the visitors to 136-3 in short order.

Woolhope 2nds won by seven wickets though, in a close-run derby away to Wormelow 2nds in Division 3.

Georgina Williams took four wickets as the hosts set a target of 221-6 off 40 overs, with Matthew Forrest firing 51, Sam Elms-Lester 47 and Dan Hearn 43.

In reply, Woolhope made it home to 224-3 with six balls to spare, Tom Lacey the match-winner with 101 not out, backed by Steve Crozier with 54 and Seb Slocombe with 26.