NEWTOWN brought the curtain down on a Shropshire League One title-winning season with a 56 run win at home to Forton on Saturday.

Ally Laird (47) top scored and knocks from Marco Malan (25), Dave Laird (23), Griff Davies (23) and John Anthony (20) led Town to 208 to defend under pressure from Joe Roberts (4-64), Henry Spencer (2-3) and Matthew Sayers (2-33).

Edwin Toreveyi (74) and Spencer (32) led Forton to 152 in reply as Dave Laird (3-22) and Tom Anderson (2-30) dominated with the ball.

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Club chairman Paul Hawthorn said: “I am absolutely delighted with a magnificent season at Newtown Cricket Club. 

“The first team regaining its position in the Premier League is great news for the team, club, players and supporters. 

"The club has worked extremely hard on and off the pitch to get to this point.

"We extremely proud of our ground that has been developed over the last few years and is certainly ready to host Premier League cricket. 

“It was a great shame our young second team didn’t quite gain promotion however our under 11s have excelled in both the Shropshire and North Wales leagues.”

Hawthorn insisted the club’s promotion would not mean a let up in their ambitions.

“We certainly do not see the first team promotion as ‘mission accomplished,’ we have ambitious plans to keep developing in women’s, juniors and adult cricket,” he said. “A solid foundation has been built but the project is still in its infancy.”

Meanwhile Welshpool ended runners-up in division three to seal promotion back to the second division where they will renew rivalries with Montgomery and Alberbury.