FROCESTER are heading back to WEPL’s top flight despite defeat on the final Saturday of the season at home to Burbage & Easton Royal.
Will Naish’s side started the day 20 points clear of nearest rivals Goatacre who dispatched relegated Warminster by 65 runs.
But Frocester banked eight bonus points from a five-wicket home reverse, and that was enough to ensure they finished seven points ahead of Goatacre in Premier Two Glos/Wilts to return to Premier One after being relegated in 2018.
An unbroken third wicket stand of 217 between Uzi Qureshi (pictured, image courtesy Brian Rossiter) and opener Johnny Griffiths lifted Frocester to 257-2 after losing the toss.
Qureshi’s 121 off 109 included 12 fours and four sixes while Griffiths finished on 100 from 169 (eight fours and a six) before Burbage eased to their target with ten balls to spare.
Hatherley & Reddings emerged six-wicket winners away to local rivals Cheltenham, Tom Bowler taking 5-43 and captain Tom Hage cracking 84.
Stroud bowled out newcomers Corse & Staunton for 110 and romped in by eight wickets, Islamnabi Ahmadzai finishing with memorable figures of 4-6 from ten overs, but still finished bottom of the table and are relegated back to the Gloucestershire division.
Coming up, meanwhile, are Painswick who saw off Cirencester by 117 runs to confirm their promotion from the Gloucestershire division.
Rogan Wolhuter (71) and Keegan Jansen Van Rensburg (70) helped Painswick total 233-7 before Ciren were dismissed for 116, Van Rensburg ending a memorable season with a return of 4-9 from ten.
Dumbleton finished second after cruising in by 285 runs at home to Bourton Vale.
The village side piled up 415-5 led by Tommy Boorman’s 118 off 68 while openers Dan Holland (104) and Ross Martin (84) along with Nipun Haggalla (70 from 33) also enjoyed batting conditions.
The visitors then folded to 130 all out, Will Sharp finishing with 5-21.
Frocester 2nds, meanwhile, trumped relegated Apperley by 129 runs, Charlton Kings held off Gloucester by 17 runs and promoted Tewkesbury emerged 86-run home victors over Rockhampton who also drop down.
Thornbury are relegated from Premier One following a four-wicket reverse away to Chippenham while Bedminster finished third despite a seven-wicket defeat at Potterne.
Bristol, whose promotion from Premier Two Bristol/Somerset was confirmed with three rounds of games to go, ended the summer with a prized unbeaten record (16 wins, one cancelled, one abandoned) following a four-wicket success at Midsomer Norton, owner Miles Kantolinna unbeaten on 106.
Bishopston finished runners-up after edging relegated Winterbourne by one wicket while promoted Golden Hill took third place after being rumbled by 167 runs at Weston-super-Mare.
The Bristol & North Somerset division was won by Keynsham despite a 124-run reverse away to Bedminster 2nds for whom opener Joe Millard hit 94.
Knowle claimed fourth place with a 63-run home success over high-flying Congresbury, skipper Joe Brimble hitting 83 while Brislington ended the summer third following a six-wicket win at relegated OB Westbury, Milo Ayres unbeaten on 98.
Bristol 2nds defeated their Bath counterparts by eight wickets and Twyford House were five-wicket winners at Bradley Stoke who return to the Bristol & District League.
Ollie Hawkins grabbed 5-29 for Twyford before the father-and-son combination of Richard and Henry Trotman both hit half centuries.