An understrength Cleeve side lost by 31 runs in Bristol & District's First Division to bottom of the league Hampset in a rain effected affair in Bath last Saturday.

Cleeve captain Sam Williams elected to field first, hoping his principal bowlers would perform, with Andy Barnsley and Joe Hance taking the new ball, bowling tight lines. It was Hance who struck first in the fourth over to remove Connor Macdonald (3) thanks to George Parsons' catch at 3-1 and then Barnsley removed Ethan Wilcox (1) thanks to Cam Elswood’s safe hands as just 18 runs were conceded in the first 10 overs.

James Boulton grabbed a brace from seven overs for 34. Mitch Want (7-1-30) removed Louis Gratton-Peters for a top score of 41, as Parsons claimed two more catches with Want on hand for the third. James Cole, returning from injury for his first league appearance of the season, took two more (5-2-32), bowling Sam Marquiss for 32 and a fourth catch for Parsons.

Barnsley (8-3-22) and Hance (7.4-2-15) returned for the last four overs removing the final wickets to bowl Hampset out for 171 in the 40th over.

In reply, Want got off to a flyer, taking nine off the first over and another 10 off the second, during which Parsons was bowled after two balls.

Want departed next in the fourth over for 30 and the wickets then tumbled as Daniel Roberts bowled with great accuracy combining with swing and movement off the pitch to rip through the Cleeve top order, to secure six wickets in all also removing Barnsley (0), Williams (6), Cole (1) and Hance (0).

Sam Marquis collected a brace to remove Alex Soch (0) and Alfie Parsons (12), at 59-8. A rain interruption and adjusted target of 132 gave some hope as Boulton and Elswood knuckled down for a partnership of 41 before Elswood was bowled for 13 and Tom Carpenter for no score, with Cleeve all out for 100 to lose by 31 runs, just before rain set in once again.

So, a disappointing loss but as other title contenders Whitchurch and Downend experienced abandoned games, all securing six points, so positions remain the same with Cleeve still second by three points ahead of Downend by 19. Cleeve travel to Whitchurch for their top of the table clash this Saturday, which will determine the season for both sides.