Ross-on Wye 1st XI continue to set the pace at the summit of Marches League Division two, following a straightforward eight wicket success against Eastnor at The Park.

Ross elected to bowl after winning the toss and had to remain patient throughout an unusual afternoon in the field as Eastnor set out their stall to bat for 45 overs without appearing to be overly concerned about run scoring. Opener Smallwood, who faced 119 balls for his 40, and Madders added 36 for the first wicket before Harry Friend’s sharp pick up and throw into Jim Lewis from square leg brought about a run out.

Chloe Tingle then won a lbw decision to remove Williams, the Eastnor captain, before Smallwood and James (36) took the score to 93. With the scoring rate trickling along at just three an over, the only concern for Ross was the need for wickets and bowling bonus points, so skipper Jack Donovan gambled with his rarely seen off spin and he promptly teased out James, courtesy of another lbw verdict.

This opened the way for Josh Element and Tingle to return to the attack for their second spells, and they certainly weaved their magic, sharing six further wickets as the visitors limped to a final total of 138-9. The teenagers both finished with excellent figures; Tingle ending with 4-19 from her eight overs whilst Element proved even more miserly, taking 3-16 from 11 overs.

In reply, Ross lost Masud Ahmed in just the second over but Stu Mair joined Harry Friend and the pair looked totally untroubled as they moved the score to 50 before Friend unluckily played on for 25. Ben Element then joined Chairman Mair and both players punished the seven bowlers used by the visitors, hitting seven boundaries each as they serenely went about their task and eased their way to the victory total inside 22 overs, Mair ending unbeaten on 49 and Element 42.

So, a 24-point haul as the Hedgehogs registered a fourth consecutive victory and the ninth of the campaign. The team now head into a key fixture at third placed Canon Frome next weekend with a 23-point cushion over their opponents as the chase for honours continues.