Ledbury 1st team finally got their Marches League Division Two campaign underway last Saturday with a home game against Leominster under the leadership of new captain David Taylor who got off to an ideal start winning the toss and deciding to bat.

Ledbury soon lost Rob Yeomans to the bowling of Marsh but Jamie Bullock, opening the batting for the very first time, took to the role like a duck to water. Unfortunately David Taylor did not get off to the best of starts as captain with the bat, falling for just two. Maurice Embrey joined Bullock and the score began to slowly progress mainly due to a sluggish outfield. Bullock was dismissed in the 15th over for a promising 23, he was quickly followed by first Rob Greening and then Martin Punt to leave Ledbury tottering at 71- 5.

However Maurice Embrey was looking in fine fettle and he found an ally in Stu Evans and between them they took Ledbury towards a competitive target. Embrey was now in full flow dispatching any bad ball with disdain whilst Evans was content to play a supporting role. Embrey reached his half century in the 42nd over but was out soon after for 55. Ledbury lost two further wickets in the dash for quick runs at the end but Stu Evans remained unbeaten on 19 as Ledbury closed on 128-7 from their 45 overs.

Ledbury knew some quick wickets would be the order of the day if they were to stand any chance of victory and Leominster duly helped them thanks to some questionable running. Bywater took an optimistic second run not aware of the danger he was in taking on the panther like Rob Greening in the covers whose throw saw the batsman short of his crease.

Leominster opener Howells though looked solid and with the help of the more fluid Finney took the score to 34 before Mark Pritchett bowled Finney for 15. The last of the Leominster big guns Russell Palmer joined Howells and with these two at the wicket Leominster were still favourites.

But then an inspired bowling change by captain Taylor saw Steve Evans remove Palmer thanks to a smart catch by Jamie Bullock. Evans then ripped through the rest of the Leominster middle order and with Mark Pritchett accounting for Howells, Ledbury were in sight of the winning post.

Mark Wadley then got in on the act taking three quick wickets, the last two in the space of two balls to leave himself on a hat trick next week. Leominster were bowled out in the 35th over after subsiding from 54-2 to 78 all out. Steve Evans finished with 4-14 and Mark Wadley 3-28. Ledbury picked up 17 points and may be more importantly plenty of confidence for the season ahead.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Ledbury are again at home and the visitors are Shobdon.