Club cricket
News from around the country
Pages 34-37
BRISTOL captain Will Rudge hopes that his club’s strong links with first-class county Gloucestershire will help propel them towards a title challenge this season.
Will Tavare, Gareth Roderick and James Bracey all featured for Bristol in Saturday’s win over Bridgwater in the West of England Premier League, with the latter skippering in Rudge’s absence.
Rudge has been missing from the first XI so far this season after tearing a knee ligament with Bracey stepping in despite studying at Loughborough University during the week.
And a new deal signed during the winter means Bristol and Gloucestershire are coming closer together than ever which Rudge is confident will have mutual benefits.
“We have always been quite lucky in that I used to play for Gloucestershire and when I finished there I took over the captaincy at Bristol and we have a great group,” he explained.
“I know Rod (Gareth Roderick) quite well and we can forge relationships for when they want to play, Tav (Tavare) grew up with Bristol so he’s keen to play too.
“We signed a deal with Gloucestershire this winter so they are using our ground as a second team pitch and training facilities.
“They have invested in some facilities which we reap the rewards of as well so it’s a really good link for the club to have.”
After losing the toss on Saturday, Bristol were inserted but lost Bracey early for three and Tavare for 20 but Roderick made 57 to steady the ship.
All-rounder Jack Ellison added a much-needed 49 off 39 balls as Bristol finished on 215-8.
And it was Ellison who proved crucial with the ball as he took 5-21 from 4.4 overs as Bridgwater slid from 130-3 to 167 all out to give Bristol a 37-run victory.
Rudge hopes to return to the side as a batsman this weekend but won’t be able to take on his usual opening bowler role for a few more weeks.
And Bristol will continue to be without their New Zealand overseas player Will Young for the foreseeable future due to ongoing visa issues.
But with two wins from three in the West of England Premier League, and a clash with unbeaten Clevedon coming up this weekend, Rudge sees no reason why they can’t challenge the very best.
“Before the start of the season we only had ambitions to win the league with our full strength team but with myself injured and the overseas missing it’s been proving tricky,” he conceded.
“We are two from three though so if we can get through the next few weeks that can still be our ambition.
“The league is the strongest it’s been for a number of years but on paper we have a very good team. We’re aware that does not always guarantee results.”