POULTON 2nd XI's mid season heartaches continued as they lost by eight wickets to one of the leading Division One sides, South Cerney. 

 Despite  the deafeat there were some great performances from George and Phoebe Beal, Dan Collins and the impressive Jack Thorn all of whom are junior cricketers at the club with great futures.

A lost toss condemned Poulton to batting first and an attack, led by O'Keefe 1-29 from nine overs and Chivers one for 26 from nine, made run scoring difficult.

Collins rode his luck up front for 22 but the middle order of Higginson 40, Clarke 25, keeper Musty 27 and the hard hitting young Beal, 26 all worked hard to force a respectable score out of Cerney.

The innings finished at a workmanlike 170 for nine with James taking all pace off the ball and ruining any attempt at acceleration with three for 27 off five overs.

Skipper Chivers opened with Wearing (18 ) and the latter used the edge of his bat with considerable regularity until caught by Clarke off the bowling of the deserving young Beal (one for 10 off three overs).

Meanwhile Chivers was hitting the bad ball to the boundary with some power but Poulton could have got into the game with a little luck in taking one of the four catches offered - some very difficult.

When Clarke caught Bayliss off the enthusiastic Kilby (one for 19), Mobley had only one intention ... to get his skipper to his 100.

Despite great bowling efforts from Phoebe Beal and the even younger Jack Thorn, Chivers 107 not out was just too big for this game.

The eight wicket win was probably not truly reflective of the game and South Cerney paid great compliments to the youthful efforts of many of the Poulton team.