JACK Cowles fired a superb unbeaten 126 to see Newent to a six-wicket victory at home to Rockhampton 2nds on Saturday.

The visitors posted a target of 204-7 off their 40 overs, with Liam Devries and Sam Watts taking two wickets apiece, and single strikes for Will Trumper, Josh Hayes and Cowles, who also took two catches.

And Cowles then set about the Rockhampton attack with fellow opener Jack Griffiths, who scored 37 before holing out.

From then on it was a one-man show, with only one other batter making double figures – Luke Merchant not out 10 – as Cowles steamrollered the visiting bowlers, taking Newent over the line to 206-4 with 2.5 overs to spare.

The Lions also won by 86 runs away to Winchcombe 2nds, Ollie Corston just falling short of a ton with 94 and Josh Ralph with 78 sharing a big partnership with him.

Bradley Smith also scored 36 as Newent reached a big total of 275-6 in 40 overs.

The hosts then came within four balls of seeing out their overs, but apart from scores of 75, 55 and 13, no one else made double figures and they were never at the races run-rate wise, dismissed in the final over for 189.

Nathaniel Gourlay starred with the ball taking 4-17 off 5.2 overs, backed by by Andrew Duggan with 3-41-8 and Joseph Campbell 2-29-5, with the win lifting Newent above their hosts to third in Gloucestershire 9B.

But the 3rds struggled away to Andoversford 2nds, all out for 78 in 31.4 overs, with Simon Hett top-scoring with 17.

The hosts then raced to 79-3 in 15 overs, Charlie Lacy taking two wickets.

Newent's Twenty20 side also lost by nine wickets at Churchdown in midweek, posting 124-8 in 20 overs, largely thanks to Ollie Corston with 70, before the hosts reached 126-1 with 10 balls to spare.