Cricket Stevenson ensures Pucklchurch clip the Eagles’ wings

JOSH Stevenson walloped an unbeaten 98 off only 63 balls for Pucklechurch who eased past Bristol Eagles by 35 runs to reach the final of the Bateman Trophy.

The opener crushed 13 fours and four maximums, and put on 165 for the first wicket with captain Ryan Watts, whose unbeaten 67 from 58 included nine fours and two sixes. Their efforts, after losing the toss, saw Pucklechurch pile up an imposing 177-1 ahead of the Eagles being restricted to 142-9. Mitch Springer, Glen Cambridge and Watts all took two wickets apiece.

The South Gloucestershire village side’s final opponents will be Barrow Gurney or Saltford who meet on Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday it’s the semifinals of the Tony Hitch Cup with Bradley Stoke hosting Bristol Pakistanis and Backwell Flax Bourton welcoming Pak Bristolians.

Bridgwater will on Sunday stage the final stages of WEPL’s qualifying competition for the ECB National Club Twenty20.

The Somerset side will play against Bath in the first semi-final at 10.30am, followed by Potterne meeting Thornbury at about 1.30pm.

The winners of both ties will then clash at about 4.30pm for the right to progress to one of eight area finals and a play-off against the champions of Cornwall, Devon and South Wales.

Rockhampton travel to Ynystawe, of Swansea, on Sunday for their rearranged Voneus Village Cup tie. Rain prevented any play last weekend at the Boundary Field so, under the rules, the venue now switches for this last 16 clash.

Rockhampton, beaten finalists in 2013, have to date overcome Corse & Staunton, Painswick, Frocester and Yelverton Bohemians to keep alive their hopes of another appearance at Lord’s.