BURGHILL, Tillington and Weobley are celebrating promotion after returning to the Worcestershire County League Division One at the first attempt.


The Herefordshire side are now hoping to retaining their top players and conceivably attracting others after winning promotion on the final day of the season.

Already relegated Belbroughton had nothing to lose and came out guns blazing. After electing to bat openers Robert Lee and Jamie Mackenzie were fired up and ready to upset the party.

7.1 overs, Belbroughton were 67 without loss and the chirping from their players and spectators was building to a crescendo.

However, Mackenzie tried one too many sixes and was bowled by Ollie Maund for 26. Teenager A J Morris came into the bowling attack pinning Lee on the crease LBW for 34.

The batsmen had no answers to the spin of Morris and the seam and swing movement of Sam Williams.

They bowled in the right areas and reduced the run rate from over nine an over, to belw four when they had completed their spells.

Morris was unlucky not to get his first five wicket haul for the firsts. A dolly was dropped off his last over but he still ended with outstanding figures of 4 for 17 off 10 overs.

Williams beat the bat on numerous occasions with his prodigious movement. He was just too good on the day for the batsmen to get an edge. He finished with 1 for 20 off his 10 overs.

Jack Stockdale with 2 for 13 and Mark Preece 2 for 18 wrapped up the tail and Belbroughton finished all out on 169 off 46.5 overs.

Chasing low scores has been the Achilles heel for Burghill this season who were still nervous despite the bowling display.

However, a breezy 29 from Jack Stockdale eased nerves before Luke Powell took control. He unleashed his vast array of strokes to the delight of the home supporters.

His exquisite on-drives, coupled with his delicate square-cuts and textbook cover-drives saw Powell hit a century with 21 fours, to seal victory by six wickets with 19 overs to spare.

Powell finished the season with 1,119 league runs, which included three centuries and seven 50s.