CHIPPING Sodbury’s first foray into the third tier of West of England cricket ended in a narrow defeat against a strong Cheltenham side.

Sodbury’s new skipper Craig Scully elected to bowl first on a damp track.

The decision looked to be a good one as Cheltenham struggled against the accurate opening attack of Jamie Wakefield and Jay Penfold with the run rate barely above one an over.

The introduction of spinner Jamie Rendell brought Sodbury their first wicket as Michael Kelly holed out to Penfold in the deep with the score on 33.

However, with the early moisture disappearing from the pitch, Cheltenham took full advantage.

The second wicket pair shared a massive 197 run stand before Jon Toghill finally made the breakthrough by removing Gareth Roderick (110).

A run out and another late wicket from Toghill saw Cheltenham finish on 251-4 from their 50 overs.

Sodbury got off to the worst possible start with Jerry Swatton being clean bowled without scoring.

Bryan Jater and Jamie Wakefield restored order with an 80-run partnership for the second wicket before Jater fell for 25.

Wakefield soon followed for 25 as well before Harry Webb took the attack to Cheltenham with some typically aggressive stroke play.

With Sodbury on 134-3 they were well placed to chase down their target.

However, when Webb was dismissed for 28 wickets tumbled with Tom Febry (20), Craig Scully (8) and John Rendell (0) all perishing, leaving Sodbury in deep trouble at 155-7.

Jamie Rendell (33) and Toghill (18) stopped the rot and tried in vain to keep up with the run rate, sharing a 51-run partnership at over a run-a-ball before they both fell in quick succession.

Chris Willoughby and Jay Penfold both finished on five not out. Bristol & Somerset 2nd XI Midsomer Norton (116) lost to Chipping Sodbury (226-6) by 110 runs A comprehensive win over Midsomer Norton gave Chipping Sodbury a successful start to their campaign.

Sodbury were asked to bat first on a wet track and were given a solid start by openers Rich Bennett (9) and Mark Graham (7) who put on 32.

Bennett was first to go and then wickets began to fall at regular intervals.

Nic Anderson (15), James Hicks (19), debutant James Newman (10) and Paul Crabtree (10) all made starts but could not press on.

At 106-6, Sodbury were struggling to post a competitive total.

However, Rich Wood and Mason Poole shared an unbroken 120-run stand, both finishing on 58 not out.

Poole hit nine fours and one six in his explosive innings, while Wood smashed five fours and four sixes including, three in a row as the final over was dispatched for 27. The home side had no answer to a strong Sodbury attack as skipper Aid Forrester and Bradley Arkwright took two wickets apiece to reduce them to 32-4.

Norton regrouped, despite Wood getting back in the action with a wicket, to recover to 114-5.

However the introduction of part-time spinner James Hicks turned the game for Sodbury once more as he ripped through the lower order with a devastating spell of 4-6, while Mark Graham picked up one wicket with the last five falling for just two runs.