HAWKESBURY Upton sealed promotion to WEPL for the first time in their history with a 51-run triumph away to fellow high-flyers Thornbury 2nds in Division One of the AMS Gloucestershire County League.
The village side, who as recently as 2017 were playing in Division Four, continued their remarkable ascent after reaching 138-8 in a clash reduced to 37 overs per side because of the weather, and then dismissing Thornbury for only 88.
Star performer was Davis Newcombe who finished with terrific figures of 5-10 from only 5.3 as the home side folded from 67-3 to 88 all out.
The fight for the title will go down to the final weekend of the season with Hawkesbury holding a three-point lead over Aston Ingham who squeaked in by one wicket away to bottom side Westbury-on-Severn.
Captain James Wagstaff (4-22 from eight) reduced Westbury to 149 all out, and it then required another superb effort from Anthony James who finished unbeaten on 96 from 119 – next highest run scorer was 15 – to get his side over the line.
Hawkesbury wrap up their campaign at home to Westbury with Aston Ingham hosting Great Rissington.
James Job bagged 5-9 from five for Division Two champions Tetbury in a tense two-wicket success away to Apperley which went right down to the wire.
And Frampton-on-Severn held their nerve for a one-wicket away victory against Division Three champions Dumbleton 2nds.
In Division Four, Jamie Baldwin finished with 4-27 from five for Stroud 2nds who went on to trump their Corse & Staunton counterparts by eight wickets.
Opener Rob Cooper was dismissed two short of his century as Division Five pacesetters Cheltenham 3rds chased down a target of 204 at home to Sheepscombe for whom opener Harvey Pynn had earlier struck 88.
Whitminster leapfrogged second placed Kingsholm 2nds with a 77-run home win against their rivals, Lee Mansell capturing 3-33 from eight.
King’s Stanley marched on at the top of Division Six, overcoming Birdlip & Brimpsfield by 43 runs, while second-placed Langford 2nds skittled Tormarton for just 60 before battling their way to a two-wicket triumph, Harry Puffitt producing one of the spells of the day to finish with 6-23.
And a burst of 5-15 from Nathan Fagg paved the way for Painswick 2nds to complete a three-wicket success away to Ruardean Hill in Division Seven.
Image of Hawkesbury Upton courtesy Mike Starling