CHIPPING Sodbury boosted their hopes of pulling clear of the relegation zone by showing plenty of fighting spirit in a nine-run victory away to fellow strugglers Apperley in the West of England Premier League Gloucester Division.

Being asked to bat first on a difficult, wet wicket posed plenty of problems for the visitors.

But they were able to build a competitive total to challenge their opponents thanks, mainly, to the efforts of two men.

New Zealander Phil Lill showed character by batting well for his fifty at the top of the order whilst former captain Craig Scully called on all of his many years’ experience to compile a game-changing unbeaten 64.

The contributions of Lill and Scully, lifted Chipping Sodbury to at total of 188-7 from their fifty overs.

Apperley found batting equally challenging as the Sodbury seam attack put the ball in all the right areas.

Mason Poole and Jarrod Campling led the charge with fine figures of 2-18 and 2-26, both from ten overs respectively.

And spinners Lill (2-32) and captain Jamie Rendell (3-49) kept the heat on to secure a win just as tailender Dave Means threatened a shock as he blasted an unbeaten 62 for Apperley.

But the home side finished on 179 all out to leave Sodbury victors by nine runs.

It was a tough day for Sodbury seconds who had Oldlands on the back foot at 6-2 before the visitors rallied to reach 283-2 in this Gloucestershire County League Division Two encounter.

That recovery was due to a Oldlands record innings of 158 not out from wicketkeeper Brad Stansfield in which he hit 22 boundaries and three sixes.

Stansfield’s partner, Brad Thomas, smashed a century for record partnership for visitors.

Sodbury made an encouraging start to their reply through skipper Bryan Jater (46), Ben Makepeace (36) and Tom Febry (33) before folding to a 66-run reverse.

Sodbury thirds came off second best against a powerful Bristol United Banks first XI in Division Seven of the Bristol and District League, succumbing by 194 runs.

But the fourths kept the flag flying with an excellent one-wicket home success against Old Down seconds in Division 11.

Alex Cummins and Wade Campling took two wickets each as Old Down were pegged back to 180-6.

And Sodbury then dug in with the bat to claim a last over victory, James Millett top scoring with a mature 53.

There was still work to do though and it came down to the last wicket pair of teenager Jack Banks (19) and Rosie Tregear, who scored the most important two of her Sodbury career to date, to get the home side over the line with five balls to spare.

* Phil Lill will be shaving off his WG Grace-style beard on Saturday night at the Sodbury clubhouse in aid of the New Zealand Meningitis Foundation.

He has had his beard since 2014. Donations can be made at https://givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/shavingthekiwiforagoodcause