IT proved a disappointing weekend for Ross-on-Wye CC’s players as both sides suffered heavy defeats.

The 1st XI slumped to an eight-wicket loss at Almeley after being dismissed for 87, while the 2nds only managed 51 at home to Dales as they went down to a 127-run loss.

With rain in the air, Almeley won the toss and put their visitors into bat in their Marches League Division 2 clash, and it paid off as only two batsmen reached double figures.

The prized wicket of third man Angus McIntyre, caught for 10, left the hosts on 29-3 following the dismissal of skipper Tony Laws for two and Keith Flitton for six.

And things got worse as Graham Howls holed out for seven (39-4), followed straight away by Ben Element for four (39-5).

Thomas Edwards offered another catch for eight (53-6) before Chloquick-firee Tingle was bowled for two (55-7) and Jim Lewis followed lbw for the same score (63-8).

Any hopes rested on Josh Element on 12, who added another 10 but then saw his stumps scattered to leave Ross nine down for 79.

Adam Parkes and Tony Leslie managed to add eight more before the former fell for five to end the innings after 31.4 overs.

With the chance of rain, Almeley were in no mood to hang around, Oliver Hughes cracking a quick-fire 39 before being bowled by Parkes (41-1) and Cory Wood then hitting 33 before Ben Element bowled him two runs short of the target (85-2), reached in short order with a four from skipper Nick Evans.

The 2nds were set a target of 178-8 off 40 overs by Dales 2nds in their Division 3 match, Will Brookes starring with the ball with four for 36 off nine overs, and Alexander Springer and Andrew Stacey each taking a wicket apiece and Wayne Husbands grabbing a catch and a run out.

But the batting just never got going, with five ducks and only Simon Timewell making double figures with 18 as Ross were dismissed in 15 overs to leave them second to bottom.

There was agony for Aston Ingham’s 1st XI as they failed by just three runs to chase down their target despite a towering 136 from opener Anthony James.

Visitors Westbury called time on their innings at 226-6 off 37.4 overs before bowling at their hosts in the Gloucestershire League Division 1 clash.

Tim Dulson took two wickets for Aston and Oli Dennis, Anthony James, George Aubrey and Luke George one apiece.

James then set to work, cracking 18 fours and six sixes in his 124-ball knock.

Everyone else played second fiddle, Josh Loade scoring 10, and Oli Dennis and Luke Ward (not out) both 18.

But his departure lbw for the ninth wicket at the start of the 45th and final over with the score on 219 proved fatal, as needing eight to win Aston could only add four more before running out of time.

But the 2nds won handsomely by 92 runs away to Redmarley 2nds in the Cheltenham/Gloucester/Forest Premier Division, setting a target of 228-3 off 40 overs before dismissing their rivals for 136 to stay third.

Skipper Martin Jukes hit 32 for the 3rds and opener Mark Landon 30, but they were all out for 108 in 32 overs at home to Upton St Leonards 2nds in Division 1 West.

And the visitors then dashed the runs off in 23 overs, reaching 114-2.

Meanwhile, Goodrich reclaimed top spot in Marches Division 1 after dismissing hosts Ledbury for just 81 in 29 overs, dashing to 84-3 in just 11 overs.

That followed a 40-run midweek T20 friendly win at home to Lydney, with Sam Griffiths hitting a superb 90 off 67 balls, including 10 fours, as the hosts set a target of 143-4.

In reply, Lydney could only manage 108-9, Matt Young and Jake Jarrett taking three wickets apiece.

Newent 1st XI were all out for 133 in 33 overs at home to Lydney in Gloucestershire League Division 1, Neil Roche top-scoring with 45 backed by 38 from Paul Carter.

The Forest outfit then reached 137-7 in 27.5 overs, Karl Mortimer and Matthew Morgan taking two wickets each.

But the Lions chased down Cinderford St John’s 211 all out off 38 overs, after Ben Sillince with four wickets and Mike Mason with three starred with the ball in the C/G/F Division 1 West clash.

Oliver Corston then cracked 46 for the visitors, with support from George Bennion with an unbeaten 39 and Wayne Phillips with 36 as Newent reached 212-6 in 36.5 overs.

Woolhope won the local village derby at Fownhope Strollers in Marches Division 1, restricting their hosts to 143-9 off 45 overs, Richard Lerego top-scoring with 30, and Ben Park taking four wickets and Matthew Windley and Dom Larkin two each.

And in reply they cruised to 139-3 in just 21.3 overs, Larkin top-scoring with 58 and Mikey Weaver hitting an unbeaten 42.

Woolhope 2nds moved up to second in the same division, walloping visitors Luctonians 3rds by 194 runs.

The hosts amassed a giant 279-7 off just 30 overs, Matt Taylor scoring 85, including nine fours and six sixes and fellow opener Andrew Williams 62, backed by Nick Black with 38.

And they then skittled the visitors out for just 85 with an over to spare, Black snaring four victims and Georgina Williams two.

Dymock 1st XI lost a nail-biter away to Corse & Staunton 2nds, with the hosts scoring the winning runs with two balls to spare in their Gloucestershire Division 4 match.

James Field scored a brilliant 91 backed by Isaac Lawrence with 41 and Martin Fowke 28 as the visitors posted 224-8 off 40 overs.

But 98 not out from Mat Dudfield just got the hosts home as they reached 228-5 with time running out, Sohail Khan also scoring 32 and Matthew Barratt taking two wickets.