Despite the return of a few experienced players, including skipper Guy Black, the thirds once again were outdone by a more senior team.

Choosing to bowl first, Bridgnorth belied their youthful exterior with a highly encouraging performance in the first 30 overs in the field. Alex Thomas (2-26) took the first two wickets to fall, before Elliot Lee (1-45) and Albert Roberts (1-22) were both rewarded for probing spells, as the hosts ground their way to 90-4.

However, the middle order played their shots in the final 15 overs, as the young, Chelmarsh-based side struggled to contain some big shots towards the end of the innings.

Captain Black (1-18) took a wicket of his own, thanks to an excellent, steepling catch in the deep from twelve-year-old Roberts, after Lee had taken a similarly fine catch earlier in the innings - undoubted highlights of a hard-working performance in the field.

In reply, Bridgnorth lost both openers fairly early on, but Black (34) and Joe Barclay (33) combined to post a half-century partnership for the 3rd wicket. Runs began to flow and an unlikely victory appeared to be within grasp, but the run out of Black proved the turning point.

Fourteen-year-old Barclay finished with his highest score in senior cricket, but the rest of the batting order crumbled against pacey, accurate swing bowler Chris Stretch (6-25), as Bridgnorth were dismissed for 123 in the 35th over.

A trip to Hinstock next week provides the next opportunity for a first win of 2014.