CHIPPENHAM'S season got off to a defeat in strong winds although teenager Liam Dawson provided a bright spark.

Chippenham suffered for allowing visiting Thornbury to get away from them as Chris Budd hit 56 and Martyn Ball hit 46 in the middle order.

However, Dawson, 15, took three of the six wickets as he tried to pull his side back into the game.

Aiming for 236 to win off 50 overs proved too tall an order for Chippenham as they lost five wickets towards the end for just 21 runs as they aimed for an over-rate of nine.

Chris Nicholas (30) and Liam Dawson (28) top scored for Chippenham but the home side ended up 63 runs short on 172.

Captain Trevor Lloyd said he was disappointed: "You always like to win your first league game of the season but I think we let them get 50 runs too many.

"It was a lot of people's first games and we have had no net practise yet but it is just about getting experience at the moment especially for Phil Adams and Liam (Dawson).

"I was very pleased with Liam's efforts on Saturday. He himself thought he had a poor game with the ball but he batted very well and took three wickets."

Lloyd added that New Zealander Hayden Smith had started well despite only landing in the country on Friday.

"I think he has fitted in already. I am sure given a few weeks to get used to the different wickets over here he will score a few runs."

Lloyd also said he had no knowledge as to when veteran Tim Hancock would be playing: "I will know more closer to the game. It all depends on who is available at Gloucestershire and whether they need him."

Chippenham travel to Downend this weekend and Lloyd said they have an overseas player to watch out for. "Kshemal Waingankar took five wickets this weekend so he looks like a good player and they will probably be a strong side," said Lloyd.