Skipper Ali Smith and Tom Stannard shared an opening stand of 220 for Haresfield Gladiators who went on to defeat Apperley 2nds by 76 runs in Division Five of the Bank House Gloucestershire County League.`

Both men were denied their centuries, Smith the first to go for 96 while Stannard followed soon after for 98 as their side posted a 40-over total of 281-2.

Ben Morton, for Apperley, then showed how it was done with 117 at the top of the order, hammering 15 fours and four sixes, as he put on 181 for the first wicket with Neil Meredith (48).

But hopes of an away win floundered as Stannard was introduced into the attack and responded with a return of 4-22 from seven to seal the Gladiators’ second win of the campaign.

Minchinhampton and Langford both made it three from three; Minch were 98-run victors over Painswick 2nds for whom Nick Marment captured 5-48, while Langford won by eight wickets at King’s Stanley, opener Will Parsons top scoring on 72.

In Division Four, skipper Jeremy Westwood again led from the front with a haul of 5-12 from five overs for Hawkesbury Upton who made it three in a row with a 91-run success at Witcombe.

Also unbeaten are Cheltenham Civil Service 2nds who overcame Birdlip & Brimpsfield by four wickets.

Aston Ingham got off the mark with a low scoring three-wicket win at home to Dymock who were rushed out for only 61 by Karl Linney (3-19) and Jack Carpenter (3-23, both from nine).

Andrew Bevan (4-27) and James Field (3-19, both from nine) then did their best to pull the game of the fire with terrific spells but did not have enough runs on the board to play with.

Simon Hore (79 not) saw Rockhampton home by seven wickets in Division Three against Great Rissington while leaders Woodpeckers were comfortable seven-wicket victors at Shurdington, Dave Cockburn unbeaten on 62.

Hatherley & Reddings 2nds are the only remaining 100 per cent side in Division Two following their 101-run success at Cam who tasted defeat this season for the first time.

Jim Green (38) top scored in the visitors’ 166-9 before Cam were rushed out for 65, Mirza Mahmud (5-21) leading the charge.

Sam Vile smashed the last ball of the match for six to hand Chipping Sodbury 2nds an exciting five-wicket home triumph against Tetbury while Craig Kibble (4-9 from nine) and Chris Jackson (4-24) paved the way for Cinderford St John to overcome Stone by eight wickets.

Lydney and Painswick are tied on 58 points at the top of Division One after solid wins.

Ed Jones (50) top scored in Lydney’s 49-run home trumping of Kingsholm, and Simon Taylor’s 6-23 put Painswick on the way to a three-wicket home success over Gloucester AIW Sports.

There was a last-ball finish at Charlton Kings where Cheltenham 2nds emerged three-wicket winners, Rob Cooper unbeaten on 78.