Three Cirencester Cricket Club teams record a trio of victories (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Three Cirencester Cricket Club teams record a trio of victories

AFTER two weekends lost to the poor weather, Cirencester CC launched their league season in fine style on Saturday with wins for all three teams.

Cirencester's pre-season preparations paid off with a comfortable victory over visiting Stinchcombe in the Glo'shire County League on Saturday.

Injuries to wicket-keeper Mark Clayton and opening bowler Iain Butler saw Cirencester taking the field with the youngest line-up for many years.

Home skipper Andy Reynolds won the toss and decided to bat first on an excellent wicket.

Although runs ticked along at the start, wickets began to tumble as Town's top three were all dismissed in the first 15 overs.

This early setback prompted an attack from Indian overseas player Donwill Rodrigues and Reynolds, the pair adding 52 in six overs.

Rodrigues punished any loose bowling by finding the boundary on a regular basis until he was caught.

In came Dan Robbins who gave momentum with swift running between the wickets.

Reynolds hit two sixes and four fours in a partnership worth 76 before being bowled by Harper for a well compiled 60. Dominic Jeffcott steered the tail to a healthy total of 231-8.

Stinchcombe did the double over Town in 2003 and, while opener Page accumulated a solid 50, the visitors were never up with the clock.

Town's attack had 15-year-old James Shackleton delivering an spell of accurate seam bowling (3-9 off 7.4 overs).

In an early breakthrough, Olly Whitaker had Armsby caught behind by debutant wicket-keeper Tom Brandreth and, from this point onwards, Cirencester had control of the game.

Unable to string any consistent partnerships together, the rest of the batting line-up struggled against the medium pace of Jeffcott (7-1-11-1) and the ubiquitous Reynolds (8-1-28-4).

Though debutant 16-year-old paceman Tom Putney did not pick up a wicket, it was pleasing to see another graduate of the club's youth policy playing an important role in the team's 93- run victory.

Fixtures for this weekend as follows: Saturday - 1st XI away to Ruardean Hill; 2nd XI home to Ruardean Hill, 2pm at the Park; 3rd XI away to Avening & Cherington; Sunday - U11s (Cotswold League), away to Fairford; U13s (Stroud League) home to Stroud, 10.30am; Sunday XI home to Kingsholm, at 2.30pm. Spectators to The Park are always welcome.