LEDBURY finally secured their first Marches Cricket League Division One win of the season after 10 matches with a hard-fought 28-run success over Kington.

Asked to bat first on a pitch offering assistance due to overnight rain, hosts Ledbury slipped to 17-2 with Josh Evans (2) run out and fellow opener Neil Andrews (12) caught at slip.

The middle order, despite 16 from Paul Andrews, slumped to 50-5 but Maurice Embrey’s innings (33) of flashing blade and defence put pressure back on Kington.

Captain Steve Evans (27 not out) and Orders (20no) saw the innings through to 158-7 from 45 overs.

Josh Evans struck in the third over of the reply, before Neil Andrews (2-32) quickly accounted for two batsmen to leave Kington on 29-3.

Ledbury’s fielders remained disciplined and Dave Nash took 5-38 in 12 overs, with five victims caught.

The returning Josh Evans (2-26) finished Kington’s innings for 130 with Neil Andrews pouching a second catch, securing a deserved, morale-boosting success.

Ledbury seconds fell to an agonising one-wicket defeat at their Luctonians counterparts in Division Three.

Skipper Steve Burgess opted to bat first after winning the toss and Chris Ritchie took advantage of the short boundaries and quick outfield.

Rob Yeoman (21) and Ritchie put on 70 for the first wicket before Ledbury brought up the 100.

Ritchie (81) fell to spin before Paddy Merryman (31) and Jason Belcher (17) took Ledbury towards the 200 mark despite Joe Hunt’s 5-46.

A cameo from Rich Griffiths (20) saw Ledbury close on 219-9 from 45 overs.

In reply, Si Ritchie took a wicket with his first ball and had another caught behind by Merryman.

Steve Large also swooped to leave the hosts in trouble on 12-3 and a mini-recovery was ended by a wicket for Belcher.

But David Foreman, who was dropped twice in the field, and Will Maund (48) put Ledbury on the back foot before Darren James (2-56) intervened with two wickets.

Si Ritchie and Large, who both took 3-43 from 12 overs, claimed a wicket apiece to leave Lucs eight down with 10 runs still needed.

Several boundaries from Foreman (97no) levelled the scores but Large bowled the number 10.

However, with all the fielders in, last man David Austin chipped a single away to secure a narrow success.