TOP of the YB40 league. Yorkshire defeated by five wickets - on their own ground.

Words from Mrs Thatcher do not usually flow from my lips, but all Gloucestershire can truly shout - rejoice! Full marks to captain Michael Klinger. His 96 was a true captain's innings, but special mention to wicket keeper Gareth Roderick.

In the championship match against Lancashire Roderick had failed to trouble the scorers. In Sunday's YB40 game he was a stopgap number three, Chris Dent having become a victim of the injury curse. He scored a rigorous 63 (four fours and one six) and his partnership with the captain took the game away from Yorkshire.

They added 119 in 19 overs and despite a late hiccup the match was won. Looking at the YB40 league table makes exciting reading.

The match would have been especially thrilling for Miles Hammond. Born in Cheltenham, Miles came through our junior and senior academies, playing for the Second XI at the age of 14.

He has represented England at U17 and U19 level and, now free of academic challenges, he is available for selection. With Jack Taylor suspended and Ed Young injured, he is now our leading spin bowler.

On a good wicket, watched by a 4,000 crowd and on a Test match ground, he bowled his quota of overs steadily, taking his first wicket. Yet another of academy director Owen Dawkins' 'ducklings' is doing us proud.

The Lancashire match was a tough one, every session on each of the four days was competitive.

The home team are a strong side with two international batsmen in their middle order (Simon Katich - Australia, Ashwell Prince - South Africa). Losing spinner Ed Young to a wrist injury early in the game and with our remaining bowlers having played just a handful of games between them, Gloucestershire could have collapsed.

They did not and a marvellous century by Alex Gidman gave the first innings some substance. It was Alex at his best. He was stylish, confident and powerful. Lancashire were prevented from scoring quickly as they strove to set Gloucestershire a target and eventually made an over cautious declaration.

They still looked likely winners but there is iron in this team. Hamish Marshall batted 216 minutes for 44 and despite some last-over drama the game was saved, and seven points gained.

The young bowlers deserve praise. They all stuck at it, no one was collared and all-rounder Benny Howell played a crucial containing role. Special mention must be made too of Craig Miles.

So far this season he has taken 20 wickets at 23 runs each. These are first class figures. While the First XI were battling at Liverpool the second team were thrashing Somerset by nine wickets.

That is a sentence I have taken great pleasure in writing. Not wishing to intrude on private grief, I refrain from further comment on the current state of Somerset cricket.

SATURDAY'S sunshine drew me to watch Poulton play. A trim, low fence borders the playing area, which looks in splendid condition.

A cheerful gathering saw a good Poulton performance. I was especially impressed by the youthful pair who opened the Poulton attack, but perhaps less so with the Poulton catching.

Invited into the splendid pavilion, I probably ate too many sandwiches. My excuse is they were irresistible. It was possible to pick a veteran six-a-side team from among the spectators.

There were two Shaws, one Nunn, wicket keeper Mike Smith, Malcolm Akers who would swing some left-handed boundaries and I would make up the number. For a few joyous minutes the years rolled away.

They do not need to for Tony Trueman who over the years has contributed much to life in the Cotswolds. On the cricket field, in the skittle alley and first as a goalkeeper, then a referee, Tony has both enjoyed and distinguished himself.

Now he has been appointed President of the Gloucestershire Association of Referees. This appointment is well deserved, rewarding as it does both loyalty and common sense. There are two intriguing cricket occasions in Cirencester next Sunday.

Most people will be attracted to the star-studded extravaganza in Cirencester Park in which Michael Vaughan's England XI play Shane Warne'sAustralia for charity.