CALL it the luck of the toss, early season nerves or simple rustiness, but Old Down cricket club were in the mire at 14 for 6 in their clash with YMCA before Russell Knight and Tom Pullin came to the rescue.

Knight smashed a half-century of 54 while Pullin went one better by hitting an excellent 79 not out in his innings to drag Old Down back into the contest and to a respectable total of 155 all out.

Sadly, a serious weather intervention, then left Old Down trying to remove YMCA in 25 overs before they could reach the lowliest of targets of 86.

That a much-reduced Old Down were unable to produce the required firepower, ensured the visitors enjoyed a quick and easy success to reach their total for the loss of only two wickets.

Meanwhile, Old Down will face a tough clash against Rockhampton on Sunday as they bid to make their way through the Village Cup 2016 Gloucestershire rounds.

Old Down and Rockhampton both received byes into the second round of the competition where the winner will face either Marshfield or Ebrington in the third round on May 29.

Marshfield got through to the second round stage after hammering Huntley.

Marshfield made 367-5 in their innings and, with a huge advantage, it was going to be tough for Huntley to overhaul them.

And Marshfield were clinical when the teams turned around as Huntley only made a measly 52-8 in reply, leaving the home side as winners by an enormous 315 runs.

l Alveston were put into the field in their Bristol and District League Division Eight clash with Wrington on Saturday but were made to suffer early on.

Wrington looked on course for a decent-sized total as Alveston struggled to get rid of the Wrington partnerships.

Before the rain came down after 35.5 overs, Wrington had accumulated 180-2, with opener and captain Mike Clements unbeaten on 75.

Alveston’s wickets came via two clean bowled efforts.

Mathew Roberts took out the stumps of opener Steve Bright for 32, while Wayne Grunshaw dismissed number three Freddie James for 55.