ASTON Ingham 1sts suffered an eight-wicket pre-season loss at home to Tewkesbury on Saturday, but their 2nds saw off hosts Newent 1sts by 42 runs.

Anthony James fired 64, including three sixes and nine fours, as the village side's 1sts made a good start reaching 136-2, backed by Oliver Henson with 28 and Tim Dulson 20.

But when James fell for the fifth wicket with the score on 163, the wheels came off, with none of the last seven batters reaching double figures and the hosts all out for 188 in the 44th over.

Tewkesbury then had little trouble chasing down the target, opener Henry Snow firing 64 and fourth man Tom Stevens 74 not out as they reached 191-2 in 41.1 overs.

But scores of 67 from Will Green, 37 from Clyde Breetzke, 31 from Mark Mathias and 30 from Jimmy Davies saw Aston 2nds to a competitive 219 all out in 39.1 overs at Three Ashes.

Newent's openers Jack Cowles with 71 and Mike Mason with 30 gave the hosts a decent start, but none of the last six batsmen made double figures, with Aston dismissing them for 177 in 32.3 overs.

Tom Day starred with the ball taking four for 13 off four overs.

An Aston Friendly XI also beat Huntley on Sunday in a closely contested 40-over match.

Mathias cracked 83 off 59 balls, including three sixes and 11 fours, before retiring not out, backed by Dan Smith with an unbeaten 53 and Mohamed Dilshad with 28, as the visitors reached 236-9, Patrick Legge taking three wickets and Jacob Hughes two.

Legge then fired an unbeaten 46 in reply, but despite other knocks of 42 from Duncan Abbott, 39 from James Hall, and 24 from Alastair Doodson, Huntley finished 22 runs short on 214-8.

Newent 3rds lost a final over thriller by one wicket at home to Ruardean Hill 3rds on Sunday.

The hosts reached 204-6 in their 40 overs, Glyn Evans scoring 37 retired not out, Jimmer Cunliffe 30, Charlie Lacey 36 not out and Joe Heron 23, as Jeevan Jili took two wickets.

Freddie Gwilliam then fired 40, backed by Rohit Kulkarni 31 not out and Pete Moore 20 as Hill squeezed home to 205-9 with three balls to spare, with Lacey taking three wickets and Rory Brown and Stuart Page two apiece.

Elsewhere, Fownhope Strollers had a field day away to Worcester Nomads 3rds in their opening Worcestershire County 7 South match, scoring 386-5 off 45 overs.

Alex Bromhead fired 129, including two sixes and 22 fours, backed by Doug Roberts with an 84 that featured three sixes and 10 fours.

Skipper Alex Carter also chipped in with 48 not out and opener Richard Lerego with 34.

Strollers bowlers then steamed in to dismiss the hosts for 205 in 33 overs for a 181-run win, Phil Nicholls taking three wickets and Carter two.

Fixtures this Saturday (May 2) include – Corse & Staunton 1sts v Aston 1sts, Aston 2nds v Ruardean Hill 1sts, Colwall 3rds v Ross 1sts, Goodrich 1sts v Cricklade 1sts, Frampton 1sts v Newent 1sts, Fownhope 1sts v Almeley 1sts.