ASTON Ingham fell to a five-wicket West of England Premier defeat at Cheltenham outfit Charlton Kings on Saturday after being dismissed for 179 in 47.4 overs.

Nic Merrin's departure for a duck second ball wasn't the best of starts, but fellow opener Oliver Henson with 61, including eight fours and a six, and new man Anthony James with 32 steadied the ship as Aston reached 97-2.

But Henson's departure to a catch heralded a decline in fortunes, with Gus Carini-Roberts (12), Dharzekanth Yoganadan (13) and Alexander Gooding (15) all making starts but unable to push on, and the visitors reduced to 147-7 and then all out short of their allotment.

The hosts then reached 50 without loss before losing two wickets in two balls as Merrin vented his frustration, bowling the opener for 25 and the next man for a golden duck.

And Merrin was on target again trapping the next victim lbw for four as Kings were reduced to 77-3, with a Dan Smith caught and bowled leaving them 97-4.

But with skipper Charles Watkins going strong at the other end, that was as good as it got for Aston, with the opener firing an unbeaten 89, including two sixes and 12 fours, to take them to 181-5 in 36 overs, Sam Didcote taking the consolation fifth wicket (164-5).

Meanwhile, Gloucestershire 7A leaders Huntley 1sts won a nailbiting local derby by 11 runs at home to Aston 2nds after scoring an imposing 299-8.

Alastair Bressington fired a brilliant 143, including three sixes and 22 fours, backed by Charlie Gayther with 64, including three sixes and eight fours, and Harrison Vickery with 48.

Aston's bowlers had success later on, Gooding snaring the centurion and taking three other wickets, with Clyde Breetzke, Ethan Drew-White, Tim Dulson and Luke White one apiece.

And despite the huge target, the hosts charged at it, the top seven batsmen all making runs, though only Will Green with 59 reached a half century.

Jimmy Davies scored 29, Gooding 24, Dulson 34, Josh Loade 22, Breetzke 35 and Hugh Smith 31 as they kept their hopes alive, but the tail lacked the firepower to get them over the line as they finished just short on 288-9.

But Aston 3rds were on the right side of the result in another nailbiter against table-topping opponents, beating Gloucestershire 8A hosts Penallt & Redbrook by five runs.

Tom Parsons scored 79, Bryn Evans 38 and Alexander Whitehouse 36, as the visitors reached 200-6 in 40 overs.

The hosts then looked on course for victory at 145-2, but four wickets from Philip Leighton (164-6) made it anyone's game, and Aston prevailed, restricting the home side to 195-8.

Aston 4ths lost by 30 runs at home to Arcadians Nine Elms 3rds, all out for 155 chasing 185 all out.

Colin Leighton took three wickets and Emma Bowyer, Will Kelsall and Isaac Goulding two apiece for the hosts, while Martin Jukes top-scored with 38, backed by Hritvik Gunreddy with 32.

On Sunday, Aston’s Friendly XI hosted a KW Bell XI and won by 166 runs.

Dan Smith scored 53 and Alex Whitehouse 50, both retired not out, with skipper Melissa Watson adding 33, Ethan Drew-White 29, Bryn Evans 22 and Clyde Breetzke 20 in a 270-7 35-over total.

In reply, KW Bell were all out for 104, Evans and Watson both taking three wickets and Will Green two.

Fixtures this Saturday include – Aston Ingham 1sts v Thornbury 2nds, Aston 3rds v Alvington & Woolaston 1sts, Apperley 3rds v Aston 4ths.