NEWTOWN had to be content with a draw as Shifnal dug in to deny the Mid Wales side victory in division one of the Henshalls Shropshire League.

An unconvincing start saw Aaron Knight caught by Bryn Simmons off Dominic Ashley for five and fellow opener Matthew Knight bowled by Jonathan Mountford for 15 to reduce Town to just 31-2.

David Laird and Ryan Davies formed a 31 run third wicket stand to revive the innings before Mountford completed his 2-53 with Laird falling for 26.

Davies was joined by Sam Cooke in a superb 111 run fourth wicket partnership which guided Town to 113 when Davies was finally snared LBW by Mark Bissell (1-15) for a hard fought 25.

The middle order continued to impress with former Welshpool star Tom Anderson joining man of the match Cooke in adding 38 runs for the fifth wicket before the latter was trapped LBW by Tom Gough for a top scoring 54.

Gough swiftly completed his 2-18 by catch and bowling Joe Monk before Anderson and John Anthony formed a 27 run seventh wicket partnership to steer Newtown to 189 when Anderson fell to Ashley (2-51) for 37 to leave captain Anthony (21no) to guide his side to a respectable 214-7 to defend.

Newtown needed a good start after tea and Anderson (2-7) hit the ground running in reply with openers Iain Mills and Tony Parton dismissed cheaply before Cooke continued his superb form by catching Ashley (9) and Anthony Parker (9) off Dave Anthony (2-37) to leave Shifnal on just 27-4.

Monk (1-10) maintained the pressure with Bissell caught by Dave Anthony for 14 before Laird sent Amar Jassell back to the pavilion for a duck to leave Shifnal facing defeat on a meagre 44-6.

However Bryn Simmons and Paul Gough dug in with a 35 run seventh wicket stand to revive Shifnal before Simmons was caught by Ryan Davies off Craig Davies (1-11) for 17 to swing the odds back in Newtown’s favour.

Shifnal were left on the ropes when Tom Gough was caught for just three by Dave Anthony off Laird (2-39) before the outstanding Anthony ran out Paul Gough for a top scoring 33.

However Newtown had no answer to the last wicket pairing of Mountford (22no) and Michael Frost (2no) who stubbornly frustrated the visiting attack to steer their side to 129-9 and a draw.