LEDBURY retained top spot in Marches Cricket League Division Two with a dominant display thrashing hosts Knighton-on-Teme.

They impressed with bat and ball after skipper Steve Evans won the toss and fielded first on a wicket tinged with green.

Knighton openers Matt James and Mark Evans struggled against the new-ball pairing of Neil Andrews and Steve Large.

James hit lusty blows to get the scoring under way and it was not until the introduction of Mike Arlott that Ledbury made the breakthrough when Evans (12) was caught behind by Paul Allen.

Arlott (2-23) soon followed this up by bowling Jack Kitchen (3) to leave Knighton on 53-2.

Ledbury took control and Large (2-36) was rewarded for his fine spell with two wickets in one over.

Another wicket fell when Paul Andrews had Rob Farrah run-out with a direct hit before Josh Evans accounted for the dangerous James (46).

Steve Evans (3-6) took centre stage with a hat-trick of wickets as the Knighton tail was blown away to leave them all out for 99.

In reply, openers James Brighton and Neil Andrews were watchful against a good attack of Farrah and Sam Siviter.

The score reached 25 when Neil Andrews (16) was bowled by Farrah.

Luke Ledbury looked to dominate and seemed to inspire Brighton as the winning total drew closer.

The winning runs were hit in the 21st over as Brighton remained on 41 not out and Ledbury 37no with six fours and two sixes.

Ledbury host Presteigne tomorrow with the players meeting at 1pm.

After a fine victory over Moccas the previous weekend, Ledbury seconds slumped to a nine-wicket Division Three defeat at Widemarsh Lads Club.

Batting first, after fit-again captain Steve Burgess won the toss, Ledbury struggled against tight bowling.

Only Pete Pritchard, making a welcome return to Ledbury colours with 32, Rob Yeoman (22) and Kevin Hathaway (26no) got the measure of the bowling as Ledbury struggled to 119-8.

Lads Club had no such problems although the home attack worked hard and bowled reasonably well.

Jeff Arlott dismissed Jamie Hancock (45) but Lads Club cantered to their victory target in 25 overs.

Ledbury hope for a much-improved display tomorrow at Goodrich with players meeting at the ground for 12.45pm.