TOM Edwards hit an unbeaten whirlwind century to help Ross CC 2nds to a 71-run victory over Luctonians 3rd XI in Division 3 of the Marches League.

With the 1st XI not in action, the 2nds took centre stage at The Park, third man Edwards striking 12 fours and four sixes in his 102 in just 58 balls to guide the hosts to 193-5 off their 40 overs.

Skipper Ben Rimington chipped in with 16, while Richard Jeffryes scored 13 and Albert Johnson 12.

The Ross attack then reduced Luctonians from 27 without loss to 27-3, Luke Timewell striking twice and Chloe Tingle once.

From that point on the hosts were in control, taking wickets at regular intervals as Luctonians limped to 122-9 in their 40 overs, Andrew Stacey taking two wickets and Mark Catlin and Ben Rimington one apiece, with Nigel Lane securing a run out.

Anthony James took six wickets to help Aston Ingham 1st XI take a tight 12-run win at home to Poulton in Gloucestershire Division One.

The all-rounder also scored 44 opening the batting, with James Benn top-scoring with 69 and Tim Dulson hitting 20 as Aston set a target of 183 all out in 44.5 overs.

Poulton looked in a strong position at 155-5, but James then took three quick wickets to make it 159-8.

And he wasn’t finished there, spearing the last wicket with a run out to dismiss Poulton for 171 in 32.5 overs.

Dave Lacey hit 52 not out, Luke Ward 47 and Tom Parsons 26 as Aston’s 2nds set a target of 172-6 in their 40 overs away to Stanway 1st XI in the Cheltenham/Gloucester/Forest Premier Division.

But the hosts got over the line with 2.1 overs to spare, scoring 173-7 largely thanks to 73 from opener Pete Green.

George Aubrey claimed three scalps and there were wicket braces for Matt Davies and Clyde Breetzke.

Aston’s 3rd XI’s batting line-up struggled at home to Gloucester 3rds in Division 1 West, all out for 78 in 36.2 overs, Steve Gooch with 25 and Martin Jukes with 12 the only ones to make double figures.

Aston made a better fist of it in the field, taking five wickets before the visitors reached 79 in 20.2 overs, including two for Toby O’Neill.

The 4th XI ran into a whirlwind away to Lydney 3rds in Division 2 West, losing by 273 runs after being set a huge target of 364-2 off 40 overs, Joe Hale firing 202 before retiring not out.

Aston came within three overs of seeing out their innings, but only managed 91 runs before being dismissed, Rhys Hobbs scoring 39 of them.

Andrew Brown fired 60, backed by James O’Brien with 25, Ralph Heaven Richards with 24 and Jack Waldis with 20 as Marches Division 1 leaders Goodrich set Garnons a target of 241-9 in 45 overs.

And they then restricted their visitors to 187-7 in reply, Matt Young taking three wickets and Jake Jarrett two.

Table top rivals Ledbury kept up the pressure, skittling Fownhope Strollers for just 71 in 22.5 overs after the hosts won the toss and elected to bat.

Tenth man Martin Skirrow top-scored with 13 as one of only three batsmen to scrape into double figures.

And Ledbury needed just eight overs to score 75 without loss, Josh Emery cracking a quick-fire half-century.

Strollers had no time to lick their wounds, though, as they travelled next day to face Wormelow in the county group stage of the National Village Cup.

Skipper opener Doug Roberts scored 75 backed by Harry Carter with 24 and Alex Carter with 20 as they reached 170-8 off their 40 overs.

It wasn’t enough though, as the hosts reached 171-6 with eight balls to spare, Alex Carter taking three wickets and Frankie Allan two.

The 2nds also missed out in their Marches Division 3 trip to face Moccas 1st XI.

Six of the batsmen only managed seven between them as they were all out for 99 in 33 overs, skipper Patrick Tandy top-scoring with 36.

Moccas had little trouble chasing the runs down, reaching 100-2 with 7.9 overs to spare.

Ben Park speared five wickets for Woolhope 1st XI at Builth Wells in a Division One clash as the hosts were all out for 148 in 36.3 overs.

The visitors made a dreadful start in reply losing their first two wickets with just two runs on the board and losing a third for 11.

But a 67-run partnership between Dom Larkin and Andrew Tanner steadied the ship, and an unbeaten 85 from the former, including 12 fours and two sixes, and 40 not out by Shaun Weaver guided them to 150-4 in just 26.5 overs.

The 2nds also won by four wickets away to Almeley 2nds in Division 3, John Lamont firing an unbeaten 45, backed by Nick Black with 40 and Luke Williams with 25 as they chased down a target of 142-9.

Black also took three wickets and Williams two, with George Griffin also bagging a brace, before the visitors raced to 143-6 with 8.2 overs to spare.

Morgan Evans with 76, Richard Henry with 40 and Tom Morley with 36 helped Newent 1st XI to 214-8 in their 40 overs at home to Shurdington in Gloucestershire Division 2.

And their bowlers restricted the visitors to 129-6 in reply to secure an 85-run win, Keith Knight taking three wickets and Mason Beasley two.

The Lions won a tight match by 11 runs away to Upton St Leonards 2nds in C/G/F Div 1 West after six Newent batsmen, including the first four, all went for ducks.

Wayne Phillips with 66 and Alfie Griffin with 20 at least gave them some runs to defend, and the bowlers then turned up trumps, Karl Mortimer taking four wickets and Andrew Brookes two as the hosts were restricted to 111-9 off their 40 overs.

But the 3rds lost another thriller by a wicket away to Ruardean Hill 2nds after 51 from James Griffiths had helped them reach 165-8 off their 40 overs.

Claire Godwin with three wickets and braces for Joe Campbell, Oliver Curtis and Jay Scott almost saw them to victory, but the Hill held out to reach 168-9 in 34.2 overs.

Dymock 1st XI dismissed hosts Oldlands for just 90 in 20 overs in Gloucestershire Division 4, Dan Gale and Richard Hall both taking three scalps.

Gale hit 45 in reply and James Field 26 not out as they then eased to 91-3 in 27.2 overs for a seven-wicket win.

Ninth man Tom Churchill hit an incredible unbeaten 103 for Dymock 2nds, backed by Nick Willets with 44 and Tim Harris with 35, as they reached 267-9 in their C/G/F 2 West home clash with St Briavels 2nds.

And the bowlers tore through the Foresters’ batting, dismissing them for just 58 in 19.2 overs, with three wickets each for Andy Kingaby and Isaac Williams.