WEPL Glos/Wilts Division

Tewkesbury (157-3) beat Rockhampton (156) by seven wickets

ROCKHAMPTON missed out on an opportunity to put further pressure on league leaders Lechlade as they lost at Tewkesbury in a rain-affected match.

The Rams were asked to bat first and only eight balls were possible before the first rain storm.

However, those eight balls did see the Rob Belbin dismissed lbw for just one.

After a delay of around an hour and with the game reduced to a 40-over affair, Will Tyler and Guy Brothwood batted very well to progress the score to 56-1 from 14 overs before yet another storm came that forced an early tea and around a 90-minute delay, resulting in a further reduction in overs with the game now being 31 overs per side.

Some very positive and selfless batting followed whilst the impressive Brothwood continued his recent run of form, bringing up a chanceless 50 before being run out on 52.

Cameos from Matt Tyler (19), Sam Phelps (13) and Jack Spence (14) resulted in Rockhampton posting a competitive total.

In reply, Tewkesbury got off to a really good start, negotiating the hostile Will Cartlidge with minimal risk and attacking the off-spin of Chris Perry from the other end to see themselves progress to 30-0.

Only seven balls into his spell, Chris Pearce dropped a caught and bowled opportunity that resulted in his ear being split open.

He was immediately taken to hospital and the 52-year-old club legend Jeremy White took on 12th man duties.

Captain Jack Spence stepped in to finish Pearce's over and managed to get the breakthrough immediately, trapping opener Jack Brixey lbw before clean bowling Ben Gwillam in the following over to leave the hosts on 50-2.

Despite some excellent bowling from Spence (2-18), Brothwood (0-24) and Matt Tyler (0-36) and a Matt Tyler run out with the score on 83, Rockhampton were unable to take advantage of their strong position.

Tewkesbury's captain Warren Deeming never looked in any trouble as he passed fifty in the process.

Will Carltidge (0-24) and Perry (0-39) both returned but Tewkesbury ran out comfortable winners with an over to spare and Deeming on 69 not out.

Rockhampton travel to Biddestone this Saturday, now trailing Lechlade by 13 points with four games remaining.