WEPL Glos/Wilts Division

Rockhampton (175) beat Gloucester City Winget (158) by 17 runs

ROCKHAMPTON picked up a crucial victory against Gloucester City Winget ahead of their top of the table clash against Lechlade on Saturday.

Having won the toss, Jack Spence decided that Rockhampton would have a bat on a glorious sunny day and what appeared to be a really flat wicket. Rockhampton openers Rowan Cartlidge and Will Tyler got off to a flyer, both finding the boundary with regularity, bringing up the 50 in just the ninth over. However, a mini collapse soon followed as Cartlidge (22), Tyler (35), Guy Brothwood (7), Simon Hore (1) and Sam Phelps (0) were all dismissed, most to the impressive Zander Tremaine (3-27) to leave the hosts on 94-5 but with Matt Tyler still there on 23.

He was joined at the crease by captain Spence and the pair of them set about rebuilding the innings with some cautious batting.

Tyler was looking good and set for yet another big score before hauling out to the deep mid-wicket for a crucial 42.

Spence and Chris Perry put on 33 before a breakdown in communication resulted in the former being run out for 34, leaving Rockhampton on 162-7.

Perry (12), Will Cartlidge (3) and James Hancox (1) followed as the Rams were dismissed for a well below-par 175 in the 48th over.

Winget's opening pair batted in very bizarre fashion, albeit against the always very economical new ball pairing off Will Cartlidge and Perry.

The pressure told on Jack Cowles (36) as he was dismissed lbw by Dave McCabe.

From being 61-0 Winget were reduced to 83-3 as McCabe struck again before the returning Will Cartlidge dismissed Tom Collinson (25).

Winget's experienced and proven pair of Richard Howell and Will Steadman both looked at ease as they effortlessly progressed the score onto 119 before a rush of blood from Steadman (20) resulted in him being caught by McCabe off the bowling of Brothwood.

Howell (24) soon followed, hitting Brothwood straight in the air to the safe hands of Will Cartlidge and all of a sudden at 131-5 it was game on.

Wickets continued to fall and runs dried up as both Perry (0-19) and Cartlidge (2-16) returned to finish their ten-over spells.

Brothwood (2-36), McCabe (3-32) and the impressive Hancox (3-44) held their nerve and cleaned up the tail with Winget being dismissed for 158 in the last over.

This result keeps Rockhampton in second place and hot on the heels of the leaders Lechlade, whom they travel to face on Saturday.