DUMBLETON are preparing for life in WEPL Premier One for the first time in their history after sealing promotion as the season came to a wet conclusion.
The village side started the final round of matches with an 11-point lead at the top of Premier Two Glos/Wilts over nearest rivals Goatacre.
And that meant there were plenty of nervous moments as heavy showers swept across the region, decimating matches everywhere.
Dumbleton lost the toss at home to Royal Wootton Bassett who had reached 245-7 from 44 overs when the clouds emptied, preventing any further play.
Some 50 miles away, Goatacre bowled out Hatherley & Reddings for 150 at home and were 46-1 from five, fast closing in on a revised target of 141 from 43, when their match had to be abandoned, meaning Dumbleton could not be caught and the champagne could be cracked open.
So much rain fell in the west that only two results were possible in the entire WEPL programme, and both came in the Bristol & North Somerset division where the race for promotion went right down to the wire.
Leaders Brislington began the day with a nine-point advantage and knowing that victory away to Bristol Pakistanis would guarantee them the title.
But inbetween the showers, they lost by five wickets, and that enabled Twyford House – third when play started – to grab pole position and elevation to Premier Two Bristol/Somerset for the first time
courtesy of an eight wicket home success against relegated Bristol 2nds.
Things could have been more different still if second placed Bristol West Indian Phoenix had not been stuck in the pavilion and unable to complete their derby clash against Pak Bristolians because of the weather.
All promotions and relegations now have to be ratified by the WEPL committee. But it appears likely that three sides will this season drop down from Bristol & North Somerset hence Bristol 2nds, Bradley Stoke & Almondsbury plus Pak Bristolians will return to the Bristol & District League.
Chipping Sodbury, meanwhile, sealed top spot in the Gloucestershire division as their match away to Thornbury 2nds was abandoned as nearest rivals Bourton Vale were also stymied by the weather, at home to Langford.
Thornbury, bottom of the table all summer, revert to the Gloucestershire League along with Frocester 2nds who finished level on points with Gloucester but who survive to fight another day courtesy of having won one match more.
Over in Premier Two Bristol/Somerset, all five games were abandoned and that meant Keynsham, Bishopston and Taunton were all unable to pull themselves out of the drop zone.
With relegations this year being loaded on the Bristol/Somerset side of the pyramid, only one side – Chippenham – will be relegated from Premier Two Glos/Wilts.
Downend return to Premier Two Bristol/Somerset, along with Taunton St Andrews, with Midsomer Norton promoted to the top table.
CORSE & Staunton beat the weather and then Rockhampton to clinch the Gloucestershire League Division One title and an immediate return to WEPL after last season’s relegation.
Rain forced a majority of games across the region to either be cancelled or abandoned, but conditions eased enough for a 20-over contest at Corse, who won the toss and piled up 187-7 thanks mainly to captain Tim Dannatt who thrashed 89 from just 56 (ten fours, four sixes) at the top of the order.
Harrison Tegg also did not hang about with 30 from 15 before Tristan Maree captured 3-10 from two as Rockhampton were bowled out for exactly 100 and an 87-run reverse.
Cheltenham 2nds, who began the day in pole position, went down by six wickets at Chipping Campden to finish second and also be promoted to WEPL.
At the other end of the table, meanwhile, Lydney scrambled clear of the drop zone with a four wicket home victory against Cirencester, Jack Knox taking 3-16 from four, making the most of the match between relegation rivals Redmarley and Kingsholm being lost to the weather.
There were no results in divisions two and three, but in Division Four Churchdown raced to a ten wicket triumph away to Kingsholm 2nds.
The home side were skittled for 30, Harry Clements finishing with fine figures of 5-6 from just 4.4, before Churchdown wrapped up the points in only 4.1 overs.
It was tighter at Goodrich who held off promoted Sheepscombe by five runs in a 20-over Division Five contest.
And Langford 2nds ended their campaign with an 84-run home win over bottom side Cheltenham Civil Service 2nds, opener Nathan Cutmore top scoring on 61.
In Six A, Upton St Leonards were rushed out for just 40 by Hatherley & Reddings 3rds who coasted in by ten wickets, Alfie Burt claiming 4-9 from six and Ben Higgs 3-1 from one, as their side took the runners-up position.
Longborough & Sezincote, meanwhile, also made the most of being able to play in Division Seven A, trumping Highnam Court by seven wickets to claim the runners-up slot.
Eldersfield saw off Bream by nine wickets, and Aston Ingham 2nds edged Stanway by three wickets.
Mikey Abbley finished with 4-10 from four for Ashton Keynes who trumped Minchinhampton 2nds by eight wickets in Division Eight C where Tetbury 3rds held on for a 23-run success away to their Stroud counterparts, captain Tom Selwood leading from the front with 76.
And in Eight D, King’s Stanley 2nds edged local rivals Frocester 4ths by one run in a tense 25-over contest.
Matt Bamford’s 59 was the highlight of Stanley’s total of 151-6 ahead of Adam Ireland pulling the result out of the fire with a superb final over which produced two wickets and a run out, and cost only six runs.
