Timsbury 1st XI missed a great opportunity to further stabilise their position in the Bristol and District League Senior Division when they were beaten by two wickets at home to Stapleton. After opting to bat first they looked in complete control at 90-2 only to lose their last eight wickets for just 38 and despite a battling performance in the field 128 was never enough.

After the early dismissals of captain Jon Strand and Kev Sibley, Mark Sage and Jack Williams came together to add 55 untroubled runs before the innings subsided.

Sage showed a welcome return to form with 55 and Williams continued his good run with 25 but thereafter only Gary Pearcy and Rob Clothier managed double figures as the Stapleton slow bowlers James Slade (4-14) and Chris Phillips (4-25) orchestrated the collapse.

Stapleton themselves never found batting easy and Timsbury were always in the game but the obdurate Noveed Mahmood defied the attack for a crucial knock of 42 and despite a spell of 4-32 from third team vice-captain Neil Hulford and typically tight bowling from Sibley who conceded just 13 runs from his 9 overs the visitors got over the line with 2 wickets to spare.

Timsbury 2nd XI travelled to Abbots Leigh in the Bristol and District League Division 5 with a seriously depleted line-up but despite a 62 run defeat acting captain Dan Hill was full of praise for the efforts of his team.

Batting first the home side compiled a formidable 225 with James Holdsworth leading the way with 89 supported by Matthew Williams (40) and Ed Markey (37). Hill himself was the visitors’ most successful bowler with 4-47.