ASTON Ingham's tough start to the West of England Gloucestershire Premier League season continued with a 24-run loss at home to high-flying Bourton Vale on Saturday.

In blazing sunshine, the hosts' attack made good inroads into Vale's batting, dismissing them for 179 in the 44th over.

Anthony James starred with the ball taking four wickets for 36 off 6.4 overs, backed by Sam Didcote with 3-32-10 and single wickets for Mohamed Dilshad, who struck third ball to remove the opener for a duck, Toby O'Neill and Angus Bartlett.

But Aston's reply stuttered to 49-4 before the middle order provided some momentum, with Craig Baker making 20, Bartlett 19, Dharzekanth Yoganadan 34 and Dilshad 16.

They reached 131-6 and still looked in with a shout, but ultimately the innings fell away, all out for 155 with five balls left.

Elsewhere, the 2nds suffered an eight-wicket loss away to derby rivals Huntley 1sts, all out for 178 in 39.5 overs before the hosts raced to 182-2 in 28.4 overs.

Jack Carpenter hit 48 and Edward Bell 37, backed by 19 from Josh Henson and 17 from Ed Bressington, but the last five batsmen could only post 16 scoring runs.

And Huntley's openers made hay in a 133-run opening stand, skipper Alex Gray firing a round 100 in 91 balls and Aidan Barr 45 as they sped to the target, Clyde Breetzke and Jenson Arrowsmith with the wickets.

The 3rds also fell by six wickets away to Bream 1sts, all out for 120 in 34 overs before conceding 124-4 in 35 overs.

Dave Lacey scored 37 and Leo Lockwood 18, with Simon King taking two wickets and Isaac Goulding and Philip Leighton one apiece.

But Aston's 4ths scored the day's sole victory by 66 runs at home to Newent 3rds, 171 all out in 40 overs before dismissing the visitors for 105 in 24.1 overs.

Chris Powell scored 53 backed by skipper Martin Jukes with 20, Harry Hollamby 14 and Hritvik Gunreddy 12.

And Billy Davies with three wickets, Harvey Powell and Andrew Gardner two apiece, plus Mike Cluley, Joseph Gardner and Emma Bowyer solo strikes then set Newent packing, the best of their batters Will Pettipher with 33.

Aston's Friendly XI lost a nail-biter by a single wicket at home to Hereford’s Cross Keys on Sunday, 146 all out in 35 overs before the visitors reached 147-9 in the 33rd over.

Last pair Nathan Davies with 25 and Will Green 20 added valuable runs after 21 from Gus Carini-Roberts and 19 from Joel Fishpool, while Green took three wickets.

In the midweek Forest Hundred derby, Aston limited Ross to 69-7 off 100 balls before dashing off 72-2 in 48 balls to claim the win, Josh Henson firing 34.

But the Wyesiders bounced back on Saturday beating Eastnor 2nds by four wickets at home, bowling out their visitors for 118 in 39 overs, with Muhammed Noufal Fazaludeen taking three wickets.

And 18s from Luke Timewell (not out) and Sachin Ali, 12 from Albert Johnson, 11s from Ben Rimington and Kiran Krishnan and an unbeaten 10 from Chloe Tingle saw them to 119-6 with 12 overs to spare.

Aston sides host Parkend in the Forest Hundred and Frampton in the Gloucester Evening League tonight (Wednesday, May 27), while Ross make the short trip to Goodrich in the Hundred.