BRADLEY Stoke are returning to WEPL as Senior Division champions of the Bristol & District League, 12 months after dropping down from the region’s leading competition.
The South Gloucestershire outfit wrapped up the silverware with a week to spare after cruising past Bristol Pakistanis by nine wickets.
Seamer Ben Rivers, once again, was central to the win as the 17-year-old took his wicket tally to a remarkable 43, finishing with 6-32 which was his fifth five-for of a summer in only 12 matches because of the disruption caused by the weather.
That effort helped bowl out Bristol Pakistanis for 204 before opener Myran Moore then led the charge with the bat, finishing unbeaten on 101 from 96 while Alfie Bradley also contributed 58.
Stapleton moved up one place to second with a three-wicket victory away to Pak Bristolians, Chris Phillips taking 4-30 and opener Babar Pervaiz top scoring on 57.
Three teams appear set to be promoted this season to WEPL with Old Bristolians Westbury closing in on that third place despite not banking a point in a nine-wicket thumping at Claverham.
Bradley Stoke, who earlier this month also lifted the Tony Hitch Cup, wrap up their season away to Hanham who dropped into the bottom two after a three-wicket reverse at fellow strugglers Timsbury.
Coalpit Heath boosted their hopes of staying up with a 78-run win at home to relegated Clevedon 2nds.
Heath had to battle to total 146 ahead of Aaron Neal (3-7) striking for the South Gloucestershire club.
Hanham (145) conclude their season away to Bradley Stoke while Timsbury (151) travel to OB Westbury and Heath (154) are away to Stapleton.
Downend 2nds, meanwhile, are now only three points off second-placed Cleeve in Division One after Chris Binnie (84), Dan Semple (64 not) and Olly Sharp (57 from 26) helped their side pile up 314-6 ahead of Portishead being skittled for 83, veteran Phil Jackson (4-15) leading the way.
Golden Hill 2nds clinched the Division Two title, overcoming their Midsomer Norton counterparts by 30 runs, Andy Parkinson capturing 5-30 from eight
And Bristol Sri Lankans are assured of the Division Five silverware after trumping Timsbury 2nds by 56 runs, Roshan Warnakulasuruya bagging 3-8 from four.
Dyrham & Hinton were another club to celebrate over the weekend after a nine-wicket victory at Taveners ensured the Division Seven title.
Tom Lewis’ spell of 3-21 helped dismiss Taveners for 131 ahead of Martin Millard, who had already gone through the 1,000-run mark for the summer, smashing an unbeaten 92 in another commanding display.