WORCESTERSHIRE Royals' dress rehearsal for Saturday's Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy final ended in a disappointing four-wicket defeat against Gloucestershire Gladiators in yesterday's National League Division One clash at New Road.

It was the County's eighth reversal of the season and puts them in danger of being relegated after finishing runners-up to Glamorgan Dragons last year.

Title-chasing Gloucestershire triumphed with 25 balls to spare to lift their confidence sky-high for Saturday's eagerly-awaited showdown at Lord's.

Before then, however, the County have a chance to get yesterday's below-par display out of their system when they visit Colchester on Thursday for a floodlit league match against Essex Eagles.

Gloucestershire were steered to their eighth win of the campaign by Alex Gidman who scored an unbeaten half-century after his side were left a modest victory target of 147. He hit 67 not out which included ten fours off 101 balls after Nantie Hayward had done his best to disrupt the visitors' progress by taking 3-32.

His fellow paceman Mark Harrity claimed a couple of wickets, including former New Road opener Philip Weston for a 'duck'.

Earlier the County, after winning the toss, made the worst possible start to their innings when they lost Vikram Solanki and Graeme Hick in the first dramatic over bowled by paceman Mike Smith. Both fell in successive deliveries to slip catches by Craig Spearman without a run on the board.

The double dismissal set the scene for a desperate struggle for runs which was restricted by paceman Mark Alleyne who took 4-26.

Contained in his impressive haul was the County's top scorer Justin Kemp, who made a face-saving 50 in his side's miserable total of 146 all out off 44.2 overs.

The South African all-rounder was last out after collecting four fours off 78 deliveries. He put on 35 in six overs with Harrity who made a limited-over best of 15.

They were two of only five County batsmen to reach double figures.