New Bourton Vale chairman Phil Colmer is delighted with the club’s start to the season in the Gloucestershire Division of the West of England Premier League.

They have won all four of their completed games – one was abandoned – most recently easing to a 106-run success over Gloucester.

They are seven points clear of second-placed Corse & Staunton, who they travel to play on Saturday, albeit Corse & Staunton have played one game fewer.

“We’ve started well,” said 42-year-old Colmer, who has taken over from the long-serving Kevin Langley. “We’ve got a strong first team, the aim is promotion.”

Bourton finished second, seven points behind Chipping Sodbury in 2025 and Colmer continued: “We were very close last season, we lost out by just a few points.

“The margins are very small but Chipping Sodbury are a good side.”

Chipping Sodbury have yet to win in Prem 2 Glos/Wilts this season, although there is still obviuosly a long way to go.

“It is a big jump,” admitted Colmer, who served as treasurer before taking on the role of chairman. “But if we do go up we’re hopeful of being competitive.”

Meanwhile, the experienced Mark Whitney led the run charge as Bourton piled up the runs against Gloucester, making 118 from 119 balls in his side’s 332-6.

The opener enjoyed a fourth-wicket partnership of 108 with Lysander Tarrant (76 from 63 balls) and Colmer said of Whitney: “He’s 41 and still churning out the runs.”

Gloucester slumped to 12-3 in reply and never threatened to get close to Bourton’s total despite Lafras van Vuuren making 100 not out and Abhishekh Chidambaran a run-a-ball 58. They closed on 226-6.