Glangrwyney CC First XI climbed to the top of Marches league division two with a victory at Dales (Leominster).

They now have a slender margin of just one point over Marden.

The home team surprisingly chose to bat first against the strong Glangrwyney bowling attack and lost wickets at regular intervals.

As usual opening bowlers Huw Griffiths and Mike Devoy made early inroads with 2-23 and 3-43 respectively. There was no respite for Dales as the following pair of bowlers continued to take regular wickets.

Luke Bowen took 3-55 and Carl Lewis 1-25 to leave Dales all out for 164.

In reply Glangrwyney lost the early wicket of Paul Daniell, soon followed by Tim Jones. Luke Bowen and Nick Jones took the score to 63 before Bowen fell for 30.

Geoff Holmes joined Jones and they put the visitors in the ascendency with a stand of 55, before Jones was out for a well struck 40. Holmes took Glangrwyney to the brink of victory with his excellent innings of 52.

On his debut, James McIlroy had the honour of taking the visitors over the winning line with 12 not out.

The First XI have a blank weekend this week as a result of Llandrindod dropping out of the league.

Glang seconds bagged their second match on the bounce with a four wicket win over Kington thirds.

Skipper Colin Griffiths duly inserted Kington and opening bowlers Haydn Davies (1 for 25 off ten) and youngster Jack Hopper (4 for 32 off nine) soon made inroads helped by a good catch from Richard James.

A swashbuckling 54 boosted Kington's total, but change bowlers Eryl Cooke (1 for 38 off 10), Lewys Cook (1 for 22 off five) and Richard James (0 for 40 off six) stuck to their task, with Jack Hooper capping a good bowling stint by getting a caught and bowled and L.B.W.

Glang's openers had a torrid time before Lewys Cook joined Mark Keane and steadied the ship. Following Keane's departure for a useful 16, Jim Astle entered the fray and forged an excellent match-wining partnership with Cook.

Astle was bowled with 20 runs needed, but Jack Hopper (8 n.o.) was supported by Cook to see Glang over the winning line. With Cook appropriately hitting the winning four in the 36th over.