THE GCB Challenge Trophy will be up for grabs when the Gloucestershire County and Bristol & District leagues meet in an historic first challenge match at Chipping Sodbury on Sunday (1pm).

It’s an intriguing clash between competitions of equal standing – the leading sides in both are promoted each year to tier three in WEPL – but to date there has been very little contact between two rivals in the same county.

This inaugural game changes that, and already there are hopes that the fixture will become an annual event with the Bristol & District hosting a return next summer.

The County League will be led by spinner Jamie Rendell on his home ground.

And his side features players drawn from a total of 11 clubs spread across four different divisions.

Rendell said: “It’s very nice to be asked to captain the side, particularly as I played several times for the B&D years ago. And to do it at Sodbury also makes the day very special for me.”

The Bristol & District, meanwhile, will be captained by Bristol YMCA all-rounder John Colley and is selected from seven sides, including prolific run scorer Alex Parsons of Division Seven Saltford.

Greene King IPA Gloucestershire County League: Mike Toolis (Lydney), Jay Westwood (Hawkesbury Upton), Mark Burton (Poulton), Sam Nichols (Chipping Campden), Chris Williams (Sheepscombe), Josh Loade (Aston Ingham), Hamza Shahzad (Gloucester AIW Sports), Jamie Rendell (Chipping Sodbury), James Tunnicliffe (Thornbury), Tom Hayward (Apperley), George Dolling (Cam).

Martin Berrill Bristol & District League: John Colley, Romesh Tenuwera (both Bristol YMCA), Tom Laver, Ash Baber (both Bradley Stoke), Alex Parsons (Saltford), Rupert Swetman, Chris Phillips (both Old Bristolians Westbury), James Downes, James Copeland (both Claverham), John Stilwell (Shirehampton), Mark Bibbing (Clevedon).

Umpires: Jim Hyland, Tom Boylan.

Scorers: Carol Froome, Sue Soper.