CHIPPING Sodbury secured a place in next season’s new-look West of England Premier League after clinching a seventh place finish in this summer’s Gloucester division.
West of England Premier League is being completely revamped from a 150-team first and second XI structure into a 70-team set-up with Sodbury set to take their place in the new Gloucestershire division.
Sodbury wrapped up their campaign with a 44-run home setback against Lydney who filled second place.
Nick Wake captured 3-26 from ten while there were also two wickets for Mason Poole, Jamie Rendell and Rob Mozelewski as lydney reached 179 all out. Sodbury then came up short, Dan Wright top scoring on 28.
Sodbury seconds, meanwhile, pulled off a tremendous four-run win at Dumbleton which denied the home side the Glos & Wilts title.
The visitors’ total of 231-8 owed much to opener Tom Makepeace’s 99 with Chris Young contributing 41.
Dumbleton, who started the day at the top of the table, were making steady progress towards the target – and the championship – before Jack Philpott (4-25) and Richard Wood (3-24) pulled the result out of the fire, ensuring Sodbury finished seventh.
Sodbury thirds battled hard but suffered a two-wicket home reverse against Bristol Lions to end the season at the foot of Division Three in the Bristol and District League which will also be overhauled in time for next year.
In Division Nine, Sodbury fourths continued their fine end-of-season form with a seven-wicket defeat of Stapleton thirds to finish a highly creditable third.
Wade Campling’s 3-18 from eight helped restrict Stapleton to 161-8 before Dave Marshall (53 not) and Damian Frodsham (31 not) guided Sodbury to the spoils after Dan Smith (28) and Dave Harvey (27) gave their side a steady start.