BROTHERS Richard and Ben Trotman shared a second wicket stand of 181 for Gloucestershire Over 50s who opened their campaign with a comfortable 39-run triumph away to Staffordshire.
Skipper Richard powered his way to 112 from 119 (six sixes, seven fours) while Ben was unbeaten on 77 as their side reached 241-3 from 45 after losing the toss.
In reply, the home side came up short as Jason Loud captured 2-39 from nine while there were also wickets for Paul Turner, Greg Welsher, James Gammon and Rich Trotman as Gloucestershire turned the screw.
It was a good day also for the 50s 3rds who emerged four wicket winners in a friendly away to Surrey.
Sam Gunaratne (3-33) and Steve Powell (3-49) were the pick of the attack as Surrey were dismissed for 206 before openers Chris McCormack (87) and Mark Febery (50 retired) led the charge for victory.
Nick Marment hammered five successive sixes in an unbeaten half century and then bagged three wickets as Gloucestershire Over 60s made it two in a row with a 55-run win over Devon at Thornbury.
The all-rounder finished unbeaten on 58 off just 26 balls with his fireworks helping the side pile up an imposing 286-5 after winning the toss.
James Cotterill followed up his century the previous week with 89 from 70 while there was also 62 from opener Rob Austen as Gloucestershire punished anything short and wide.
Devon, in reply, were travelling well at 165-2 but top scorers Stephen Hunt (94) and Chris Cook (78) both perished to Marment who finished with 3-44 from nine.
Nic Hayward weighed in with 2-24, also from nine, while there were two wickets for Matt Cannon in a comfortable victory.
There was a 50-run win for the 60s 4ths in a friendly away to Somerset at Barrow Gurney.
The visitors totalled 163-5 from their 40, openers Gerald Baker (43) and David Parker (34) top scoring before retiring.
In reply, Somerset were pegged back to a reply of 113 all out, Nigel Allen claiming 3-8 from five and Peter Storey 2-26 from eight.
Gloucestershire Over 70s, meanwhile, launched their new league season with a six wicket triumph away to Wales who were restricted to 155-9 after winning the toss.
Geoff Eaves (3-26 from nine), Andy Kear (2-16 from nine) and Ed Shellard (2-20 from five) gave nothing away with the ball ahead of new captain Keith Daniels leading the victory charge with a dogged 60 off 108 while there was also an unbeaten 25 from Mike Pearson.
There was also a comfortable win for the 70s 2nds who held off Hertfordshire by 37 runs at Birdlip, Tom Parsons hitting 38 and Anthony Glinos bagging 2-20 from six.
TUESDAY MAY 12
Gloucestershire O60s away v Wiltshire
Gloucestershire O60s 2nds v Sussex (Oldlands, 1pm)
Gloucestershire O60s 3rds v Wales (Stowell Park, 1pm)
Gloucestershire O60s 5ths v Gloucestershire O50s 4ths (Birdlip, 1pm)
WEDNESDAY MAY 13
Gloucestershire O50s away v Buckinghamshire
Gloucestershire O50s 2nds away v Cornwall
Gloucestershire O50s 3rds v Oxfordshire (Great Rissington, 1pm)
Gloucestershire O50s 4ths away v Warwickshire
THURSDAY MAY 14
Gloucestershire O70s v Shropshire (Fairford, 1pm)
