IT HAS been a long time coming but at last Timsbury can celebrate their first league win of the season in the Bristol and District League Division 1 after winning by 23 runs at home to Claverham.

Throughout the season they have created numerous match winning opportunities without finishing the job off but on this occasion they won the key moments for a well deserved success.

After winning the toss and electing to bat the home side lost an early wicket but a key partnership of 71 between Lew Redwood (41) and Mark Sage (32) created a good base which for long periods they looked as though they would not fully exploit.

Kev Sibley weighed in with 24 but the star of the show was Liam Hosford who changed the whole momentum of the match with a dynamic knock of 29 in just 10 balls, striking five fours in the last over to enable the home side to reach a challenging total of 184. For the visitors Adam Hadfield took 3-23.

The Claverham reply was dominated by captain James Copeland who stayed strong while wickets were falling around him. Sam Hoddinott bowled another tight early spell to take 2-21 in his eight overs, Martin Richards collected 3-38 but it was Sibley (2-26) who grabbed the vital wicket of Copeland who fell to a tremendous catch by Liam Hosford for 88. It was a fine all-round display by the home side who will be hoping to maintain these standards for the rest of the campaign.

Timsbury’s second eleven made it a great day for the village club with a 26 run victory away to Dyrham and Hinton in the Bristol and District League Division 6. Fifty-two from Cory Versfeld , 43 from Dan Hill and 29 from Paul Cracknell saw Timsbury reach a promising 132-2 but a steady fall of wickets saw them eventually amass 193-8 from their 40 overs . Thomas Lewis, Andrew Lewis and Anthony Pearce each took two wickets for the home side.

A number of the Dyrham and Hinton batters got starts without ever going on to make the crucial contribution, Richard Greenwood top scoring with 28. Tom Parfitt (2-31), Oscar Humphries (2-36) and Yusef Parvez (2-40) took the bowling honours for the buoyant Timsbury team.

An under-strength Timsbury third eleven were no match for a strong Midsomer Norton third eleven, losing at home by eight wickets in the Bristol and District League Division 9 East. Steve Ford (23) and Chris Rawlings fought hard at the top of the order but a total of 78 was never going to seriously challenge the league leaders who saw Bicknell take 4-13 and Brooks 3-21. Crocket (31) and Ablett (26 not out) saw the visitors safely home.