LEDBURY’S poor start to the Marches Cricket League Division One season continued with a heavy seven-wicket home defeat to Woolhope.

They had comfortably beaten the local rivals on the way to promotion from Division Two last season but their opponents were vastly improved this time.

Batting first, Ledbury looked well placed at 40-1 but then lost a flurry of wickets to crash to 60-6, including opener Joshua Evans (16). Sensible batting from Paul Andrews (34) and Maurice Embrey (27) enabled a rescue of sorts to finish on 159 all out from 44 overs.

Chris Watts took 5-41, Ben Park 3-47 and Daniel Fox 2-26 for Woolhope.

With the Park brothers in fine form, the total always looked well short of being competitive and Woolhope duly chased the target down comfortably.

Chris Park top-scored with 63 and Will Tanner added a rapid 35 not out in 17 balls alongside Ben Park’s 34.

Steve Large, Embrey and Evans took a wicket each.

Ledbury’s search for a first win of the campaign takes them on the long road to Builth Wells tomorrow (1pm).

The second XI, who are bottom of the table like the firsts, return to action at home to Colwall thirds in Division Three (1pm). Meanwhile, fourth-from-bottom Canon Frome fell again in Division One, going down by four wickets at Brockhampton thirds.

The villagers could only score 101 all out with Ben Child (23), Matthew Richards (12) and Adam Hope (16) reaching double figures.

Brockhampton secured victory in the 36th over on 105-6 despite Calvin Cottrell taking 3-30 and William Godsall 2-10. Bosbury failed to field a side in Division Three and conceded defeat to Strollers.

Leaders Colwall thirds beat Luctonians seconds, who were skittled for just 40 by the bowling of Eddie Hill (5-13), Fergus Cameron (3-14) and Jake Hill (2-2).

The Ghost Meadow hosts romped home by 10 wickets in 9.2 overs through Alex Mackie (11 not out) and W Bishop (26no).

Eastnor fourths gained a winning draw over their Colwall counterparts in a clash of the Division Four East top two.

Ian Milton scored 70, Richard Williams 58 and skipper Steve Emery 46 in Eastnor’s 251-6 from 40 overs.

They bagged 23 points as Colwall could only reply with 133-7 through Griff Price (39), P Milton (24) and Ben Recordon (22no).