THE weather stepped in to frustrate Chipping Sodbury who had made an extremely encouraging start in their opening WEPL Gloucestershire division match of the season, home to Woodmancote.

Sodbury, who had lost the toss, had reached 217-5 in the 45th over when the rain arrived and prevented any further play.

Opener Dan Wright had compiled his maiden century for the club, and was unbeaten on 103 from 126 balls, including ten fours, while skipper Jamie Rendell had just been dismissed for a breezy 43 from 57 balls, when the heavens opened, preventing any further play.

Sodbury, encouraged by their efforts against a side they twice lost to last year, will now be away to Frocester 2nds on Saturday.

Sodbury 2nds, meanwhile, battled hard for a low-scoring 24-run triumph away to Newent in Division Three of the Gloucestershire County League.

The visitors, who elected to bat, struggled to reach 128 with Nic Anderson digging in for 28 from 56 balls, Jarrod Campling compiling 29 from 56 deliveries and No 9 Tom Clay dropping anchor for an unbeaten 16 off 52.

The true value of those gutsy innings became apparent in an extremely close encounter as Lee Walters (4-14), Jay Penfold (3-23 from nine) and Clay (2-16 from nine) along with Campling (1-20 from six) and Callum Davidge (0-28 from seven) then performed with the ball to seal the win for Sodbury who on Saturday are home to Lechlade 2nds.

Chipping Sodbury 3rds, in contrast to the 1st XI, were on the back foot when rain washed out their home Bristol & District Division Seven date with Bath 4ths.

Sodbury were dismissed for 87 in the 34th over, Darren Bell top scoring on 14, when the weather had the final word. Steve Febry’s side will be hoping for better luck on Saturday away to Bristol Asians 2nds.

Sodbury 4ths came second in their Division Eleven date away to their Winterbourne counterparts who scored 236-8, Jamie Pearson and Ross Tyler taking two wickets apiece.

The visitors were then dismissed for 109, Tyler top scoring on 39. Sodbury this weekend entertain Failand & Portbury 2nds.

Chipping Sodbury 5ths, playing in Division 16, opened with a 25-run success over St Mary Redcliffe 3rds at Hillesley.

Sodbury’s total of 164 was based around opener Steve Hill’s patient 52 and 24 from Craig Hambly plus an important 19 from promising under-17 all-rounder Dan Whittaker who followed up with a return of 3-28 from eight as Redcliffe were dismissed for 139.

Mark Graham produced an important spell of 3-16 from eight with Hambly also weighing in with 2-14 from six for Sodbury who travel on Saturday to Hallen 2nds.