Ross-on-Wye 1st XI hosted Cleobury Mortimer at The Park on Saturday, August 19th, in a clash of the top two sides in Marches League Division Two that ultimately saw Ross comprehensively beat their nearest rivals and, in doing so, claim their first league title in over 20 years!

Ross lost the toss and were asked to bat by the visitors who, to date, have been the league’s most potent bowling attack. Youngsters Harry Friend and Angus McIntyre batted with caution at the outset scoring just 25 in the first ten overs. They saw off the new ball and then both grew in confidence as they increased the scoring rate against the second line attack with shots all around the wicket. The partnership was worth exactly 100 when McIntyre fell for 49, but the platform was set for Ross to really attack in the second half of the innings.

Ben Lander scored a breezy 13, Toby Hiram a more resolute 22 and Jack Donovan blasted a quick 24, whilst Friend continued his fabulous innings before finally falling for 87 as he unselfishly put the quest for team runs ahead of reaching any personal landmark of his own. This enabled Ross to reach a very competitive total of 221-8 from their 45 overs.

After tea, Cleobury raced to 20 from the opening two overs before opening bowlers Adam Davis and Chloe Tingle dragged the run rate right back with the now expected accurate lines and lengths. Tingle made the first breakthrough when she bowled Nick Griffiths for 12. Cleobury captain Kemp and Ben Griffiths then took the score to 55 before the bowling partnership of Andrew Tingle and Jack Donovan took complete control of the game over the course of 15 overs.

Tingle bowled with real venom to have Kemp excellently caught by Davies for 24. Donovan bowled Evans for a duck before the visitors crumbled from 86-3 to 86-7 as Tingle claimed three further victims aided by more great catching by Hiram then Lander and the miserly Donovan clean bowled his second victim. Tingle wasn’t finished yet as he added two further victims to his tally to finish with match winning figures of 8-1-26-6.

Adam Davies and Chloe Tingle returned to the attack needing one more wicket to win, and Davies claimed it, clean bowling the last victim as Cleobury were bowled out for just 111. The wicket that sealed victory by 110 runs for Ross and a first league title for more than twenty years was met by huge cheers from the players and the supporters around the ground as the team spirit instilled by Captain Donovan was abundantly clear for all to see.

Credit should also go to the Cleobury team who were magnanimous in defeat and applauded the Ross players off the field at the end of the game.

This was a ninth straight win for the newly crowned champions who will now aim to make it double figures against Presteigne in the final league match of the season at The Park this coming weekend.