CIRENCESTER received a significant boost in their battle to avoid relegation from Readers Gloucestershire County League Division One when they secured a convincing six-wicket victory over fourth-placed Newent in the Park on Saturday

It was only their third win of a difficult campaign so far, but the Town has three good reasons to celebrate.

It was their first home success of a season in which their prowess in the Park has been markedly below par, it avenged a nine-wicket drubbing at Newent earlier this summer, and it produced a valuable match haul of 21 points to narrow the gap between them and their rivals immediately above them.

Skipper Andy Cooper took the decision to field on a greenish pitch and the decision paid dividends, although not instantly as Newent went for their shots from the start.

Cooper it was who made the initial breakthrough, trapping Duggan leg before for 17 and he then claimed a second wicket in identical fashion, before Henry, who has caned the town attack for an unbeaten 81 in their previous encounter, began to produce a series of powerful boundary strokes.

The introduction of spinners Gee Singh and Dick Tugwell slowed the rate however, and with the visitors having reached 97-2 it was Tugwell who claimed a crucial wicket as Henry was caught in the deep by Cooper after miscuing an attempted big hit.

Thus encouraged, Tugwell went on to claim three more wickets in quick succession to leave Newent struggling on 101-6 and although Lloyd hit a quick 20 he was then clean bowled to give the left armer his fifth wicket from an accurate 12-over spell.

Mark Hayes then found length, line, and useful outswing, to prop up the tail with 3-22 as Newent slumped to 150 all out in the 44th over, setting the town a very gettable target.

They lost Andrew Walker trapped leg before in the fifth over of their reply, but Dave Durston and Richard Graham added 49 for the second wicket before the latter edged a catch behind and another valuable stand of 44 between Durston and Cooper kept the momentum going nicely.

Durston eventually pulled a catch to deep square leg having hit a boisterous 48, but there was no way back for Newent as Cooper found his best form of the season, crashing three big sixes in a rapid unbeaten 46 to see his side home in style.

Scores: Newent 150 all out (Henry 42, Lloyd 20, Tugwell 5-31, Hayes 3-22) Cirencester 156-4 (Durstin 48, Cooper 46 not).