THE two Richards, Henry and Howells, set up a derby victory for Newent at Cinderford with impressive displays with the bat.

Henry scored 94 and Howell 91 as the visitors set a target of 222.

Henry also picked up a couple of wickets.

Newent won the toss and elected to bat but Cinderford made an early breakthrough when Morgan Evans was caught by Simon Gwynne off the bowling of Mark House for seven at the end of the fourth over.

Henry joined Howell at the crease to put Cinderford through a long, hot and unproductive afternoon in the field as far as further wickets were concerned.

Both batsmen were still at the crease after Newent had seen out their 40 overs.

Cinderford, who are currently bottom of the Second Division needed a win but got off to a poor start when Edward Ruck was bowled for by Henry with the second ball he had faced.

Balasingam Sivathas joined Simon Gwynne in the middle and would go on to post his side’s second highest score.

He hit three successive boundaries in the ninth over and followed up with a six in the 11th.

But in the next over, Henry struck again when Gwynne was caught for 11 by Thomas Morley.

Mark House showed intent, hitting a boundary with the first ball he faced and he would go on to head the Cinderford scoreboard with 44.

A potentially dangerous partnership was broken up when Sivathas was caught by Jack Cowles off Morley to make it 71-3 in the 19th.

Josh Edwards made a cameo, bowled by Morley for five.

House eventually went for 44, caught by Neil Roche off the bowling of Jack Devries.

The home side stuck at their task with Chloe Skelton scoring an undefeated 30,

Jack Weaving was caught by Karl Mortimer off Devries for 23 and Jonathan Bowdler hit 13 not out but Newent eventually claimed a 41-run win.

The result leaves Cinderford bottom of the table but only six points behind Rockhampton Seconds and safety.

Lydney did their Forest neighbours a favour by beating ninth-placed Gloucester AIW Sports by 10 wickets in the city.

Newent remain fourth in the table.

Elsewhere in Division Two, Redmarley’s promotion hopes took a knock when they lost by a single wicket to visitors Shurdington.

The Cheltenham side passed the 174 target with four balls to spare.

Redmarley are now 15 points adrift of Langford who occupy the second promotion spot behind leaders Lydney.