JOHN BRACEWELL’S honeymoon period on his return to Gloucestershire appears to be over.

Ian Fisher took the first hat-trick of his career against his old employers, who got their Twenty20 campaign off to a poor start with defeat against Worcestershire Royals on Bank Holiday Monday.

After Bracewell was announced as director of cricket last year, Fisher was promptly released amongst four players, also including Frocester’s Mark Hardinges.

And just as things seemed to be going so well for the former New Zealand head coach, Fisher came back to haunt the Gladiators with three quick wickets which effectively ended their challenge in the 23-run loss at New Road.

While Gloucestershire can be rightly proud of the giant strides they have made so far this season, no win in three games - not including the abandonment against Sussex or last night’s game against Glamorgan - has brought them down to earth slightly.

Alex Gidman’s men restricted the hosts to what seemed to be a modest total. Steve Kirby led the way with 3-41 and Gemaal Hussain impressed on debut with 2-17 off four overs, while another former county player, Ashley Noffke, top scored with 33 for Worcestershire in their innings of 145-7.

Hamish Marshall and top scorer Will Porterfield (25) - who this week revealed his intentions of playing for England one day - got the chase off to a good start with an opening partnership of 41.

But once Marshall (15) was dismissed, skipper Gidman (0) quickly followed and the rest of the batsman failed to get going.

With the game still in the balance at 89-6, Fisher removed Steve Adshead, Hussain and Ian Saxelby to end Gloucestershire’s hopes of victory.

Jon Lewis struck 20 not out in 14 balls, sharing a last wicket-stand of 29 with Kirby (5), who was the last man out in the total of 122.