Ledbury II 118-5, Woolhope II 94 all out.

LEDBURY ground out a well-earned victory by 24 runs in their opening match of the season against Woolhope in Marches League Division Four.

In a low scoring, but none the less absorbing game, Ledbury batted first after new captain Richard Orders won the toss and against tight bowling and on a slow wicket Ledbury struggled to score freely.

Steve Burgess (23) and Rob Yeoman (26) did at least build some sort of platform but apart from Maurice Embrey (30) who looked in fine touch nobody else could make any impression on the innings.

After their allotted overs Ledbury had inched their way to 118-5.

Initially Woolhope found the wicket much easier to bat on as the openers added 36 runs in reasonable time.

But when Clive Jones had the Woolhope captain A Williams caught in the gully the game changed as Woolhope amazingly lost nine wickets for only 21 runs as they found themselves 57-9 and seemingly out of the game.

The chief architect of their downfall was Embrey who bowled excellently, grabbing 5-11.

With Jones also claiming three cheap wickets Ledbury were on the brink of victory, however, Stuart Williams, with a few lusty blows, did give the visitors hope particularly when he was joined by last man P Watkins (21) and it looked as though Woolhope could pull off a unlikely win.

But Jamie Cooper held his nerve and claimed the last wicket leaving Williams stranded on 23no as Ledbury ran out winners in a game played in great spirit by both sides.

A special mention must also go to 14-year-old Paddy Merryman, who held two fantastic catches for Ledbury.