ADRIAN Gore's five wicket haul proved crucial as Dales narrowly beat Shirebulls by one wicket as the GB Liners Marches League kicked off in earnest.

Gore finished with figures of 5-17, while Russell Palmer also chipped in with three wickets for the Leominster side in the Division 2 game.

Chris Oleksy, batting at number 10, top scored for Shirebulls with 19 as the away side were skittled out for just 112.

But Dales struggled to reach their target, Chris Breeze lethal with the ball.

He snapped up six wickets to finish on 6-26, with Ben Boswell grabbing two.

But Dales managed to get over the line to win by a single wicket.

Elsewhere in the division, Sam Pratley's unbeaten 92 helped Marden thrash Presteigne by eight wickets.

Presteigne were bowled out for 145, with Phil Davies top scoring with 45.

In Division 1, Garnons and Builth Wells tied their game as both sides were skittled out for 191.

Sam Charles' knock of 46 and Rob Pritchard's 43 were key for Garnons, with Pritchard, along with Thomas James grabbed four wickets.

Mark Bradford's fantastic figures of 4-7 saw Goodrich thrash Brockhampton 3rd by eight wickets.

Brockhampton were bowled out for a paltry 51 and Goodrich easily reached their target.

The other game in the division saw Luctonians secure a winning draw against Canon Frome, with Hamish Knight (58) top scoring for Lucs.

Weobley conceded their game against Llandrindod Wells.

In Division 3, both Goodrich 2nd and Garnons 2nd won their respective matches by 38 runs – Goodrich 2nd overcame Bosbury, while Garnons 2nd beat Eastnor 3rd.

Frank Kelly's unbeaten knock of 87 saw Luctonians 2nd thrash Ledbury 2nd by 187 runs, while Abergavenny 2nd beat Strollers by 83 runs.

But Abergavenny were penalised 10 points for failing to attend the All Club's Meeting.

Kington 2nd also conceded their game against Colwall 3rd.

Sarah Lewis' four wickets helped Kington 3rd narrowly beat Burghill & Tillington 3rd in Division 4 West, while in the eastern section, Eastnor 4th beat Brockhampton 4th by six wickets, Herefordians hammered Strollers 2nd by 120 runs and Colwall 4th overcame Woolhope 2nd by 15 runs.