WILLIAM CARTLIDGE and Jack Spence took four wickets each as Rockhampton beat Stroud to move above them in the table.

After being put into bat, Stroud slumped to 15-3, 42-5 and then 64-7 with Cartlidge and Spence doing the damage but Leighton Collins’ 58 lifted Stroud to 155.

Cartlidge finished with 4-31 off 14 overs with Spence claiming 4-50 off ten overs, while James Hancox (1-28) and Will Tyler (1-3) claimed two tailenders.

Rockhampton opening batsman Rowan Cartlidge (30) was trapped leg before for one, but captain Matt Tyler (36) and Robin Arkell shared 54 for the second wicket.

The Rams then lost five wickets for 52 runs as they fell to 130-6. However, William Cartlidge followed up his impressive bowling display with 22 not out off 21 balls and guided his side home with Will Tyler, who finished unbeaten on 29.

This result lifted Rockhampton one place to sixth and helps ease their relegation fears, with Stroud dropping into the relegation zone in a division with little between the sides.

Matt Tyler's men take on fifth placed Marshfield at home on Saturday.

Glos/Wilts Division 2nd XI Stroud (69) lost to Rockhampton (73-1) by nine wickets

This was one of those magical days for the Rams where just about anything and everything went to plan.

The Rams held eight catches as they skittled the hosts for 69 in 30 overs and the game was won before tea with Hopkins and Beale blazing off the runs in just 16 overs.

Having won the toss, Dave Lane decided to field first and the reward was instantaneous as a checked drive off Jamie Curtis was hit straight to the grateful hands of the skipper at mid-off.

At the other end Pearce (3-20) was fast and he bagged his first second team wicket as Cooke took a sharp diving catch at cover.

Two overs later he had another wicket, caught and bowled, and when Curtis (2-15) then found the shoulder of Dutton’s bat and Hopkins collected the catch at slip, the hosts were reeling at 11-4 from ten overs.

Webb (2-17) had Milne caught behind by Cox and he pinned the new batsman back with a bouncer that rose and took him on the cheek.

Cave (3-16) got Camp with another catch for Cooke at cover then Curtis threw himself to his left to hold a brilliant, stinging catch at mid-wicket for Webb’s second, deserved wicket.

As rain threatened again overhead Cave got stuck into the tail, bowling Gibbs and Cox in consecutive balls, but was denied his hat-trick despite a loud appeal for caught behind.

Pearce got the last wicket with another good catch by Hopkins at slip again.

Jake Cox was caught behind for a duck as the Rams began their response but Hopkins punished anything short, including a pull for six over mid-wicket and when Beale got going at the other end, the game was never in doubt.

Beale (20*) finished the game by crashing a front-foot six over cow.

MGM Stroud Premier League Rockhampton III (111-4) beat Stroud (108) by six wickets

Rockhampton continued their march towards promotion.

Spurrell (5-0-23-2), Williams (10-3-30-3), Matt Wright (8-0-20-3) and Chris Irwin (5.1-0-25-2) did the damage with the ball to dismiss Stroud for 108.

Opening batsmen Paul Williams (19) and Chris Taylor (14) made good starts before they were out Things went downhill for Rockhampton as Martin Grey (0) was given out lbw and Nick Fraser (3) had his off stump removed.

However, Steve Ives (38*) and Rich Mackinnon (27*) steadied the ship and played some excellent shots to bring home the win Rockhampton remain top of the league and unbeaten this season.