Bridgnorth’s second string battled to a hard-fought losing draw at Cannock & Rugeley Hawkins, thanks in part to a rearguard effort with the bat from Andrew Mooney.

With stand-in skipper Andy Carson choosing to bowl first, the hosts made a solid start by latching onto loose early deliveries, whilst the bowlers struggled to find control. Carson made the first breakthrough to trap opener Javid lbw for 41, but Hawkins continued to score with relative ease.

The introduction of Ollie Gill (2-24) and Lewis Hurdley (2-27) then began to change of the momentum of the game, well supported by some good catching in the deep, before Ben Leather returned for a second spell to finish with 3-48.

Big shots continued to be attempted however, and the hosts finished strongly on 236-9 off 50 overs.

Missing regular opener and skipper Alex Yarnley and the in-form Matt Martin, a reshuffled batting line-up needed to make a solid start. Carson anchored the innings early on with Gill and Ben Barclay, but a mini collapse saw the visitors stumble to 43-4.

Carson and Mooney then worked hard to stabilise the innings, but the dismissal of the skipper for 43 saw the remainder of the Bridgnorth line-up left with the task of playing out the remainder of the innings for the draw.

Wallis and Leather both provided valuable support, before Hurdley and the obdurate Mooney (43 not out) saw out the final eight overs with just one batsman remaining on the boundary edge.