LECHLADE’S Joe Breet believes that his side are reaping the rewards of a profitable off-season as their title charge rumbled at the weekend.

The Manor Ground side returned to the top of the Premier Two Glos/Wilts division with a six-wicket triumph at bottom-of-the-pile Burbage & Easton Royal, with Lechlade leapfrogging Goatacre, who dropped all the way to fourth as a result of their loss to Rockhampton, who themselves moved up to second.

Lechlade have remained firmly in the title hunt all summer so far and former Wiltshire captain Breet reckons that the groundwork for their fine campaign to date was laid before a ball was bowled in anger this season.

“When you bring good players in to a side, it gives everybody a boost and we did very well by bringing in some great guys in the off-season,” said Breet.

“We brought in Tom Young, from Chippenham, Jock (Jamieson-Black), from Cirencester, and Liam Smith, and they’ve all done well under Ryan Higgins, who’s our coach.

“This season, it hasn’t just been one or two players contributing – every player has made a contribution and everybody can be a match-winner on their day.”

Burbage won the toss and opted to bat first, with home skipper David Cope, at number two, top-scoring for his side with a knock of 64.

Bevan Small (45), Oliver Lavis (29 not out) and Sourish Muhkerjee (25) all also chipped in but the Lechlade bowling attack did their best to keep a lid on their opponents.

Benny Ellis took 3-36 as Burbage were bowled out for 238 with the penultimate ball of their innings.

In reply, Ellis led the charge for the visitors with the bat, hitting an unbeaten 61, whilst opener Breet made 49.

Tom Young was also unbeaten on 48 as Lechlade reached 240-4 with just an over to spare.

Breet added: “It was a very tough game and we knew it was going to be one.

“Being blunt, teams that are in mid-table don’t really have anything to play for but the ones that are fighting relegation battle just as hard as the ones that are fighting for the title, so its’s never easy against them.”