OPENER Mark Burton helped get Poulton off the mark in Division One of the Greene King IPA Gloucestershire County League, top scoring with 95 in a five-wicket success at Kingsholm, writes Steve Hill

The home side reached 202-7, Nick Farrar top scoring on 63, before Burton anchored his side’s reply, striking 15 boundaries off 107 balls and receiving useful support from Liam Smith who bludgeoned 44.

Apperley moved to the top of the table at this early stage with a 112-run win at Lydney, Mike Provis top scoring with 87 off 69 (16 fours, one six), and Cheltenham 2nds also made it two from two with a nerve-tingling six-run triumph at home to Charlton Kings.

Udit Talati’s unbeaten 92 lifted Cheltenham to 228-8, and it proved to be just enough despite Liam Brignull’s 49.

It was even tighter at Redmarley who edged Chipping Sodbury by only one run, opener Randy Mahase top scoring on 34, while newcomers Thornbury 2nds overcame Gloucester AIW Sports by two wickets.

Promoted Aston Ingham, meanwhile, made it two from two in Division Two, trumping Ullenwood Bharat by 96 runs with openers Shafiq Khan and Josh Loade both hitting 78 before Oli Henson struck with a devastating burst of 6-20 from only 4.2 overs.

Cam were eight-wicket home winners over Cinderford St John while Barron De Rose finished with 4-11 from 6.1 overs for Woodmancote Saints who dispatched Chipping Campden by 64 runs.

Captain Keith Knight’s 84 dominated Shurdington’s three-wicket home triumph over Hatherley & Reddings 2nds while there were three wickets apiece for Stuart Reeves, Kieran Price and Olli Halford in Oldlands’ 40-run win at Westbury-on-Severn.

In Division Three, Ben Foxwell (71 not) and George Bailey (64 not) saw Hawkesbury Upton follow up last week’s victory with a nine-wicket home success over Cranham who hit 194, and Rockhampton 2nds also made it two from two by overcoming Frampton-on-Severn by 67 runs.

Langford piled up 317-4 at home to Tetbury who were skittled for 110, Great Rissington trumped Woodpeckers by 80 runs and Frocester 3rds were seven-wicket winners at Chipping Sodbury 2nds.

Skipper Jack Cowles’ 102 was a highlight of Newent’s 126-run victory at Lydney 2nds in Division Four, and Adam Tarrant captured 4-30 from nine for Bourton Vale 2nds who saw off Birdlip & Brimpsfield by 18 runs.

Robbie Baker was unbeaten on 50 for Cheltenham Civil Service 2nds who defeated their Tewkesbury counterparts by five wickets, and Ollie Timperley’s burst of 4-15 set up Dumbleton 2nds’ nine-wicket pounding of Stone.

In Division Five, Sheepscombe rushed out King’s Stanley for 58 and a quick-fire eight-wicket success.

Corse & Staunton 2nds lost both openers for ducks but rallied to reach 171-9 away to their Cirencester counterparts ahead of completing an eight-run win.

Minchinhampton overcame Charlton Kings 2nds by 42 runs, Aled Howell was unbeaten on 95 in Cheltenham 3rds’ 83-run home win over Witcombe and Luke Carr’s unbeaten 114 set up a 57-run home triumph for Gloucester 2nds over Haresfield Gladiators.

WEPL

ASH Joyner claimed 6-19, including a hat-trick, as Bristol completed a superb 33-run win away to WEPL Premier One champions Clevedon.

The home side appeared to be in charge at 89-2 needing a modest 134 for victory. But Joyner turned the game on its head with a fine spell to deny Gloucestershire’s Ryan Higgins who top scored on 35 after earlier taking 4-12 for Clevedon.

Bristol now prepare for a home date on Saturday with Bedminster who overcame Taunton St Andrews by 43 runs.

It was not looking good for Bedminster at 129-7 before Danish international Jino Jojo crashed an unbeaten 88 off only 65 balls (10 fours, four sixes) to transform proceedings and set up his side’s opening win of the summer.

Downend, meanwhile, made it two from two with a four-wicket victory away to Potterne while 115 from Gloucestershire wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick could not save Cheltenham from a 34-run reverse at fellow newcomers Lansdown.

County captain Chris Dent made his debut for newcomers Winterbourne who made it two from two in Premier Two Bristol/Somerset with a 56-run home triumph over Ilminster.

Dent shared an opening stand of 131 with Gloucestershire team-mate James Bracey who went on to hit 94 on his return to his home club.

Bishopston were edged out by five wickets at home to North Perrott and Keynsham suffered a 60-run reverse at Taunton Deane.

Over in Premier Two Glos/Wilts, Yvan Grant pounded a ton off only 76 balls for Thornbury who rallied from 59-5 to eventually total 278-8 at home to Trowbridge and pave the way for a 167-run success, captain Luke Davis capturing 5-18 from ten.

Frocester were edged out by four wickets at Burbage & Easton Royal and Stroud stumbled by five wickets at Chippenham but Dumbleton were 39-run victors at Corsham, skipper Adam Stuart leading the way with 104 off 134 balls.

Bristol West Indian Phoenix were bowled out for only 124 at fellow newcomers Frenchay but still went on to complete a 29-run win in Bristol & North Somerset, skipper Ricardo Williams digging in for a crucial 61 off 98 balls.

George Brimble (4-26) shone in Knowle’s two-wicket success away to Bath 2nds while Bristol 2nds overcame Brislington by three wickets and Richard Trotman blasted 115 off 134 balls for Twyford House who were four-wicket victors at Stapleton.

Tom Hage top scored with 92 for Hatherley & Reddings who dispatched Cheltenham Civil Service by 189 runs at the top of the Gloucestershire division.

Cirencester also made it two from two with a three-wicket win at Tewkesbury, as did Rockhampton who overcame Gloucester by five wickets.

Ross Martin and Nick Marment both took three wickets as Painswick trumped Corse & Staunton by 78 runs, and Mark Whitney top scored on 64 in Bourton Vale’s 52-run victory away to Frocester 2nds.