Whilst early rain threatened this season curtain-raiser, it was the Rockhampton batting that proved to be the real damp squib on an eventful afternoon at the Boundary Field.

After new Rams captain James Hancox lost the toss, Rockhampton were put in to bat and made a positive start as Gloucestershire contracted player Michael Beard and veteran Jerry White looked assured against the new ball.

However, after a couple of flowing boundaries, Beard was caught behind for 13 as George Rigali made the most of any early moisture on a pacy track.

White then suffered a suspected compound fracture of the finger and retired hurt to hospital.

The middle order of Will and Matt Tyler, Simon Hore and Matt Belbin all succumbed to the on-fire Rigali and his opening partner Will Nicholls (2-27).

Next, Jack Spence followed White to the casualty unit as he was struck in the face by a bouncer, leaving Rockhampton in disarray.

The lower order offered little in the way of resistance as Will Cartlidge, Hancox and Rob Belbin all fell cheaply with Rigoli returning figures of 10-3-21-6, including a hat-trick.

With pride at stake, and two substitute fielders rounded up, Rockhampton got an early breakthrough as Cartlidge castled Marc Williamson for eight.

However, there was to be no fairytale comeback as, with such a low total to chase, the Swindon batsmen played with understandable freedom, reaching the target inside nine overs.

Rockhampton will look to make amends away at newly promoted Dumbleton on Saturday.

The match ball was sponsored by Jude Coombs in memory of her husband Steve.

WEPL Glos/Wilts Division 2nd XI Swindon (166-8) beat Rockhampton (164) by two wickets A thrilling game at Swindon ended in farce with both teams determined to battle it out for victory in the midst of a torrential rainstorm in near darkness.

The heavens opened emphatically with Swindon needing 11 runs to win with just two wickets in hand after the Rams had earlier looked to be cruising to a dramatic opening day win.

Both skippers agreed to see the game to a close and with the bowlers struggling to grip the sodden ball and the batsmen struggling to see it, Swindon scraped over the line.

Jimmy Cooke had lost the toss and opened the batting for the Rams with Nigel Hopkins. The pair added 55 for the first wicket in 11 overs before both were dismissed in consecutive overs bringing an immediate halt to the scoring.

Adrian Savery was stumped for eight whilst Charlie Paterson and Dave Long steadied things in the middle order.

Paterson went for a patient 13 but Carl Boucher added some impetus with a quick-fire 20.

Richard Mackinnon smashed a six out of the park and Sam Nichols added late runs but Long’s 21 was the top score in a total which seemed some 30 to 40 runs below par.

Nichols was keen to prove otherwise and he dismissed both Swindon openers for ducks in a brilliant opening spell.

When further catches were taken by Cooke behind the stumps and Tom Coates at mid-on Swindon were reeling at 41-4 and Nichols had all four wickets.

Tom Coates bowled superbly from the Pavilion collecting 2-27 in his ten overs and Ed Twemlow bowled Lee Baden behind his legs.

Swindon were 127-7 but the Rams missed three very tough chances and were left to regret them.

When Nichols returned to bowl Parkinson for 12 he had figures of 5-48 from 11 overs but Swindon had recovered to 151-8 and in horrendous conditions they managed to club the winning runs.