Gloucestershire Under 14 Boys had to settle for the runners-up spot at the Taunton Festival after rain washed out the final day of the competition.
 
The team finished as runners-up to Buckinghamshire after the weather denied them a chance to overthrow their rivals on day five.
 
Despite this disappointment, it remained a successful week for the squad who won two matches and recorded a winning draw against the eventual champions.
 
Gloucestershire began the festival with a commanding 62 run victory over Shropshire. Batting first, Gloucestershire posted 283-8 from their 50 overs before bowling their opponents out for 221. 
 
The boys got their tournament off to a flying start thanks to a strong opening partnership between Tommy Boorman (Dumbleton) and Sam Brooks (Bristol YMCA). The loss of Boorman for 34 did little to check the flow of runs as skipper Ben French (45) (Frocester) looked in confident mood from the off. 
 
At the other end Brooks was looking increasingly fluent and looked set for triple figures before falling for 72.

A middle order collapse threatened to derail the innings but Gloucestershire got back on track thanks to an excellent partnership between Charlie Brook (46) (Cirencester) and Toby Rice (28) (Lodway). The pair dug in to halt Shropshire’s momentum before taking the game to their opponents to post an impressive 283.
 
In reply, Gloucestershire looked in control as two early wickets for pace bowler Ethan Corbett (Dumbleton) were complemented by an excellent spell of 3-27 from Winterbourne spinner Jack Studley. 
 
But Shropshire recovered and nearly took the game away from Gloucestershire thanks to some impressive middle order counter-attacking – including 82 from number seven Tom Griffin. 
 
Left arm seamer Ahmed Tabraiz (Pak Bristolians), who had bowled with great accuracy and guile in his first spell, then returned to wrestle back control of the game. He took 2-29 including key man Griffin and Corbett (4-39) also took two wickets in his second spell to finish the job.
 
On day two Gloucestershire cruised to a one-sided 145 run victory over Oxfordshire. It was a similar story to day one as Gloucestershire began positively through Boorman (50) and Brooks (29). 
 
Another middle order collapse put Gloucestershire in trouble but they were saved by an innings of determination and class from Ahmed Syed (79) (Thornbury). He held things together and received good support from Rice (18*) as Gloucestershire posted 261-9.
 
In reply Gloucestershire bowled with discipline from the start and backed it up with a strong display in the field. Opening bowlers Brook (2-20) and Tabraiz (2-19) both took early wickets to put their side in control. This was followed up by a superb spell of 3-17 from 10 by Studley as Oxon were eventually bowled out for 116.
 
Day three brought a hard fought encounter against Devon. Batting first again, Gloucestershire were indebted to a masterful 96 not out (103 balls, 14 fours, 1 six) from Ollie McConkey (Reading). He combined powerful stroke play with resilience to almost single-handedly help Gloucestershire post a competitive total of 187.
 
Syed got Gloucestershire off to the perfect start with an early breakthrough but Devon fought back with a second wicket partnership of 80 between Pascoe and Walker. 
 
Studley broke the partnership, removing Pascoe for 36 and turned the game on its head with two more wickets in an inspired spell of 10 overs 3-12. Bowling in partnership with fellow offspinner Taylor Ireland (Frocester), Gloucestershire put pressure back on their opponents who slipped from 119-2 to 144-6 with a couple of run outs contributing to their downfall. 
 
But again Devon dug in and battled back into contention, withstanding some hostile pace bowling from the returning Corbett and Syed. Because Gloucestershire had been bowled out in the 48th over Devon had 52 overs to reach their target and they needed every ball – eventually getting over the line on the final ball to win by two wickets.
 
Gloucestershire picked themselves up from that defeat with an excellent performance against eventual winners Buckinghamshire. Batting first, they lost an early wicket but recovered through Boorman (32) and Syed. When Boorman departed McConkey (25) ensured Gloucestershire continued their momentum. 
 
But when the number four fell it brought a flurry of wickets as the team’s middle order problems returned. However Syed was still at the crease and batting beautifully. He just needed another partner and found just that in number eight Brook. Syed went on to score a stylish 97 while Brook added a county best 66* as Gloucestershire posted a dominant 279.
 
In reply Bucks began well and Gloucestershire were forced to stay patient as early wickets eluded them. Despite not taking wickets Gloucestershire continued to bowl with control and kept their opponents behind the run rate. 
 
As Bucks tried to accelerate Gloucestershire began to make breakthroughs. However, recognising that a losing draw would give them top spot in the tournament table, Bucks took the decision not to chase the win.

Despite success for Corbett (3-32) and Tabraiz (2-41), Gloucestershire were unable to bowl their opponents out and had to settle for a winning draw as Bucks finished on 231-7.
 
Gloucestershire Under 15 Boy v Somerset Under 15 Boys (at Frocester CC)
ECB Under 15 County Cup, Group 4A 
Somerset 231-7 (50 overs)
Gloucestershire 235-5 (47.3 overs) 
Gloucestershire won by 5 wickets
Scorecard
 
Gloucestershire Under 15 Boys claimed an unassailable lead at the top of their ECB Division with a five wicket win over Somerset.
 
The result ensures the team secure a home quarter final in the national competition.
 
They secured top spot after restricting Somerset to 231-7 in 50 overs and knocking them off in the 47th over.
 
Having lost the toss and been asked to field, Gloucestershire got straight to task when spinner Ryan Kilmister (Dumbleton) had Charlie Sharland caught by Will Gilderson (Dumbleton) with the score on 13.  
 
Wicketeeper James Rew and Adam Rosslee re-established a strong base as both reached their half centuries during a second wicket stand of 109. 
 
Gloucestershire skipper Sami Hamid (Winterbourne) mixed and matched his bowlers to try and force an error and it was Will Hope (Great Rissington) who made the breakthrough when Rosslee was caught by Joe Durie (Old Bristolians) for 64. 122-2 soon became 148-3 when Praneel Choughule's (Thornbury) got the crucial wicket of Rew for 55.  
 
Excellent fielding by Gilderson resulted in the run out of Rishi Shimpi (13), which took the visitors to 170-4. Disciplined bowling from the hosts meant that runs were becoming difficult to find and forced errors from the Somerset batsmen. 

The returning Gilderson removed Ben Chaffey for 25, before Shay Sainsbury was caught by Hamid off the bowling of Stanley Brown (Cheltenham) for 13. Brown struck again before the end as Somerset finished their innings on 231-7.
 
In reply opening pair Choughule and Hope looked to be positive before the former was undone by a straight one from Jacob Brand for 7. 
 
Brown (4) followed soon afterwards, being caught behind off the same bowler to make it 34-2. In response Hope and George Driver-Dickerson (Rockhampton) played with maturity and responsibility to take the game back to Somerset.  

The pair played some magnificent shots, stroking the ball to all parts of the ground in a partnership of 125 before Hope was bowled by Max Horton for 80 (94 balls, 15 fours). 
 
Driver-Dickerson followed soon after for 56 to bring Nick Shubach (Dumbleton) and skipper Hamid together with the score on 163-4. The pair ran quick singles and rotated the strike putting on a partnership of 21 before Schubach was bowled for 12 by opener Jack Harding.  
 
At 184-5 and still needing 47 to win the game looked to be in the balance. But Hamid (31*) and Charlie Brennan (23*) (Bristol) both looked assured at the crease as they chased down their target with three and a half overs to spare.