Loade cracks century as Ingham close gap on leaders Campden

OPENER Josh Loade cracked a century as Aston Ingham closed the gap on leaders Chipping Campden with a 21-run home victory over their rivals in Division Three of the Greene King IPA Gloucestershire County League.

Loade, who was dismissed for exactly 100 off 130 balls (seven fours), received fine support from Jack Carpenter (57) and James Hamilton (54) to help steer their side to 262-4.

And fine work from Charlie Neale (3-35) and Oli Henson (3-36) then ensured the visitors came up just short, leaving Aston Ingham trailing the leaders by five points with four rounds of games to go.

Jeremy White was another opener to reach double figures, compiling 101 for Rockhampton II who dispatched Hawkesbury Upton by 113 runs, while Adam Smith’s 130 helped Stone move out of the bottom two with a 44-run home success over Frocester III.

Skipper James Westhead thumped 122 off 116 balls (19 four and a six) while opening the innings for Tetbury who overcame struggling Slaughters United by 131 runs.

Painswick, the Division One leaders at the start of the day, slipped up by 109 runs at Corse & Staunton for whom skipper Tim Dannatt led the charge with a magnificent 157 off 104 (22 fours, four sixes).

It was a day to remember for the Dannatt family as his father also hit a ton, an unbeaten 111 for Corse III who overcame Lydney III in a Cheltenham/ Gloucester/forest of Dean Division One West clash.

Poulton moved into pole position courtesy of an eight-wicket thumping of Apperley while Chipping Sodbury remain fourth after defeating lowly Westbury-on-severn by 111 runs, skipper Jamie Rendell spinning his way to a return of 5-39.

Opener Jon Kear joined a long list of centurions with 117 for Lydney who overwhelmed Cam by 161 runs, Paul Morris also capturing 5-8 from four, while Redmarley cruised past Charlton Kings by nine wickets.

Thornbury II, the Division Two pacesetters, lost by one run away to their Hatherley & Reddings counterparts but remain more than 50 points clear in the title race as closest rivals Shurdington also slipped up by 80 runs away to Cinderford St Johns, Simon Gwynne starring with an unbeaten 114 and a return of 4-25 while Mark House struck with 4-17.

Ullenwood Bharat overwhelmed Chipping Sodbury II by 161 runs, Abdul Haq Channa claiming 5-22, while Woodmancote had a two-wicket success over Cranham.

Division Four leaders Langford trumped Cheltenham Civil Service by 87 runs, Harry Stevens top scoring on 91, and second-placed Great Rissington overcame Gloucester City Winget II with half centuries from James Seagrave and Carel Smith.

Matt Nicholson (100) and Kevin Emery (60) shared an unbroken stand of 184 to power Dumbleton II to a 10-wicket home success over Corse & Staunton II in Division Five8.