REPRESENTATIVE teams from the Martin Berrill Bristol & District and Greene King IPA Gloucestershire County leagues are to face each other in a challenge match which it is hoped will become an annual fixture, writes Steve Hill.

The County League won a coin toss to have home advantage in the inaugural clash, on Sunday July 21, and decided to stage it at Chipping Sodbury whose 1st and 2nd teams are former members of the Bristol competition.

Tom Stevens is putting together the first County League representative team anyone can remember.

He said: “We’ve been in touch with member clubs asking them to nominate players and the early response has been very good.

“We’re hoping to put a squad together by mid-to-late June and then start to really get sorted.

“We are hoping that plenty of people will be interested enough to come along and support us so fingers crossed there will be a good crowd at Sodbury.”

Chris Strong, who has been manager of the Bristol representative team for around 20 years, said: “I think the players will really enjoy the game.

“We used to take part in an inter-league competition before it was wound up four or five years ago, so since then our only matches have been against member clubs celebrating a special anniversary.

“There will be a bit more of a competitive edge to this fixture and it will be a good test.”

The Gloucestershire Cricket Board have supplied a trophy which will be presented after the match.

Bristol & District will warm up for the fixture with a rearranged 70th anniversary celebration clash at Cleeve on June 30.