JOE Breet was left cursing the elements after rainfall denied him the chance to fire Lechlade back to winning ways at Warminster last weekend.

The former Wiltshire captain, who also skippered the Cotswolders last term, hit a storming 112 as his team looked to recover from back-to-back defeats at the hands of Goatacre and Cheltenham, but Saturday’s match was abandoned late in the day, with hosts Warminster having completed just 17 overs.

Lechlade opted to bat first after winning the toss and opener Breet hit 18 fours as he constructed his century from 96 deliveries, with fellow opener Tom Young also making 53 as the visitors stood at 171-2.

Brad Dial was the next to find his range with the bat, weighing in with a knock of 77 from 48 balls, and whilst Warminster’s Bradley Small took 3-45, the hosts could do little to prevent a rampant Lechlade from continuing to enjoy themselves at the crease, the visitors posting a formidable 312-9.

Breet also played a part in turning the screw on Warminster early on in their reply, with the Lechlade man claiming the wickets of openers Jack Berrisford (17) and Mark Coxon-Tenty (8).

Pete Hickerton also fell to Liam Smith for just two runs but with Jamaine Bullen and Tom Davie on 16 and 11 respectively, the heavens opened and play was abandoned at 6.41pm, snatching away Lechlade’s chances of securing their fourth victory of the season.

Saturday’s clash saw Freddie Martin’s side slip to third in the Premier Two Glos/Wilts division table, with Goatacre leaping up to second after their victory over Burbage & Easton Royal.

In the Wiltshire Division, Purton’s trip to table-toppers Trowbridge suffered the same fate, with the match abandoned after just 35 overs of play were managed.

Aaron Lee’s villagers were put in to bat first after losing the toss and opener Sam Shelford set about anchoring his team’s innings with an unbeaten knock of 58.

Fellow opener Xander Pitchers (14) was one of four Purton batsmen to fall to Trowbridge captain Mike Reynolds (4-21), another being number six Sam Collier, who weighed in with a total of 31.

As the rain took hold of proceedings, Purton’s innings was initially reduced to 35 overs, with Lee’s men at 144-5, but the elements refused to subside and the contest was brought to an end.

Saturday’s fixture also proved a painful outing for umpire Ron Dawson, who took a ball to the face at square leg and suffered a broken eye socket.

Third-placed Purton face a crucial trip to second-in-the-table Marshfield next weekend.