Box lose battle of the bottom clubs

The last 15 overs however produced a further 133 runns as they ended with 221-6 thanks to some aggressive use of the long handle against the change bowlers, with Malcolm Bond making 47, Dave Crawford 34 and Gerald Hayward 27.

Even Morris suffered as his last two overs went for 23 runs, giving him final figures of 2-48 from 13 overs.

Nationwide made a flying start by contrast with Shane Thompson (87) and skipper Kevin Flay setting off at five an over and a third wicket partnership of 79 between Thompson and Eddy Roofe (33) took them within striking distance. Nationwide finally won by five wickets with two overs to spare. For Box, John Tooth, with 2-42 in 11 overs, was the pick of their bowlers and Malcolm Bond shone in the field.

After last week's slip up against Box, Marshfield returned to winning ways at Potterne.

Thanks mainly to Graham Gaiger (63) and Lee Sanders (39), Potterne closed on 175-9. Dan Watson (81 not out) and Tom Crockett (55) made light work of this target as Marshfield raced to a seven wicket victory in just 23 overs.

Great Bedwyn's challenge seems almost over as they lost at home to third place Calne. Bedwyn struggled for runs as Lian Botes took 6-27 in 15 overs, only George Stone (42) enabling them to total 130-8.

Steve Richards (54 not out) then led Calne to a six wicket victory.

Bath Civil service consolidated fourth place as they made 147 all out at home to Purton, Richard Cope (34) and Matty Smith (29) top scoring as Toby Bowler took 4-34 in 15 excellent overs. Purton were then dismissed for 108, Martin Sansum top scoring with 28 and John Cook taking 3-16 in nine overs.

Division Two

THERE is no change at the top of the table with the top three sides all winning; but also shocks as Beanacre and Burbage and ER at the bottom also recorded victories.

Leaders Spye Park entertained Swindon Civil Service and dismissed them for 148. Andy Mildenhall (49) and Mike Giddings (36) top scored as Sam Cotis took 4-46 in 12 overs and John Beal 4-22 in 14. Spye then went on to a six wicket success thanks to Dave Beal (55 not out), Richie Bowater (44) and Ross Pagett (31). Mildenhall was the pick of Civil Service bowlers with 1-41 in 12 overs.

Second placed Lechlade stormed to a ten wicket victory at Sutton Veny. The home side scored 210-7 thanks to Andy Frost (85 not out) and Doug Small (60). However a superb 140 not out from Matt Coe, ably backed up by Roger Pettifer's (57) saw Lechlade knock the runs off in just 32 overs.

Cooper-Avon Tyres kept the pressure on the leaders as they overcame visiting Buscot Park by five wickets.

Hamish Millar (52), Chris Cook (53) and Ronny Fernandez (40) took Buscot to 182-6, with Andy Hunt taking 3-48 in 15 overs. Nathan Mantle (37 not out) and Derek Wilde (35) then top scored and with useful contributions from their other batsmen Cooper-Avon gained victory with seven overs to spare.

At the other end of the table, Burbage and ER carried on from last week and gained the scalp of Urchfont.

Burbage scored 179-9 thanks largely to Terry Strong (41 not out) and Pete Amor (40) as Wayne Williams took 3-36 in 15 overs and Stuart Walmsley 4-59 in 12 for Urchfont. Then despite Cosmo Cupid's 60 Urchfont were bowled out for 150, Archie Swatton taking 3-19 in seven overs.

Beanacre won for only the second time and though they are still rooted to the foot of the table their win has dragged their opponents Seagry down to ninth, two points adrift of Burbage.

Seagry made a useful 222-3, with Alex Farraday contributing a fine 114 not out. Beanacre were struggling until Roy Veacock (72) and Andy Story (73 not out) added 140 for their eighth wicket and helped them to a two wicket victory.

Division Three

LEADERS Avebury struggled for runs at home to Cherhill and had Andrew Blake (36) and Greg Dix (26) to thank as they reached 149-8 with Les Welling taking 3-25 in 15 accurate overs.

When Cherhill batted they had no answer to Rob Gater who took 6-15 in 14 over and were shot out for 50.

This defeat drops Cherhill into ninth place and with the three sides now above them having all won and also with games in hand need some good wins in their last three matches.

Wanborough stay second as they won by three wickets at Heytesbury. The home side made 150-9, with Adam Ackworth (29) and Richard Jelfs (29) top scoring as Dan Holden took 4-20. Paul Dore (40 not out) and Mike Pethick (38) then steered Wanborough to their win despite Justin Wagstaff taking 4-39 in 15 overs.

The bottom of the table clash at Highworth with Moredon Royal Oak saw the visitors winning run continue.

Highworth were bowled out for 118 with Craig Bell top scoring with 57. Roger Morton (56 not out) then helped Moredon to a five wicket win and lifted them two places while pushing Highworth back to the foot of the table.

Swindon 3rds also pulled away from the bottom with a 150 run home win over Lambourn. Swindon, thanks to Gareth James (49), Robin Sawyer (41 not out) and Mark Thomas (48) made 217-7. Craig Mabberley then took 5-13 in 3.5 overs and Paul Matter 2-13 in eight to bowl Lambourn out for 67.

Blunsdon move up to a menacing third place, with two games in hand over the leaders as they defeated fellow challengers Wroughton Wranglers. Wroughton scored 171-7 with Dave Woodcock (31) top scoring as Darren Fisher took 4-28 in 14 overs. Thanks to Julian Beckett's solid 48 Blunsdon were able to gain a six wicket win with two overs remaining.

Division Four

LEADERS Corsham 3rds suffered a surprise reverse, losing by seven runs at Keevil.

Thanks to Kelvin Lockwood (61) and Paul Jones (34), Keevil managed 165-9 as Ileyus took 6-30. Jones then took 6-43 as Corsham were bowled out for 158.

Challengers Bradford Town and Wilcot were both able to gain ground as they defeated Dauntsey Gentlemen and Mildenhall respectively.

At Mildenhall, Wilcot rattled up 241-5 with Graham Staplin making 100. Graham Smith then took 7-6 in 12 overs as Mildenhall slumped to their lowest league total of just 37, oddly one fewer than in last year's meeting).

Bradford Town made 199-7 at home to Dauntsey Gentlemen with opener James Edwards making a patient 63 from the first 42 overs, supported by Rob Powell (27) and Graham Long (24). The real damage however was done by Clive Warren who came in after 29 overs, was dropped first ball, and then hammered 64 from 45 balls. For Dauntsey, Graham Jerome took 4-74 in 12 overs.

Tony Laws then returned the best ever league bowling figures for Bradford with 8-24 in 10.2 overs. With Mat Harrington and Sam Edwards taking the other two wickts, Dauntsey collapsed to 80 all out.

At Coates, Wayne Sanderson took 3-8 and Tim Sanderson 3-28 for the home side as visiting Litten Tree were bowled out for 74. Ian Barber (39 not out) and Dan Mead (23 not out) then helped Coates to an easy ten wicket win.

Westbury 3rds' bowlers again struggled, this time at Bathford who raced to 278-9 with Paul Merritt (69), Adam Ferguson (87) and Adam Cousins (26) leading the run feast.

For Westbury the pick of their hard worked attack was Ron Seviour who took 5-62 in 14 overs. In their reply Westbury were bowled out on the penultimate ball for 144. Phil Mead (41) and Paul Hewins (41) were the major contributors as Andrew Murray took 2-45 in 8.5 overs and James Riddington 3-15.

Division Five

MARSHFIELD 2nds stay at the top of the table following their 140 run home win over Warminster 3rds, whose bad run continues.

Brian Jenkins (68), Dan Hill (68) and Garry Pullin (32 not out) top scored as Marshfield made 235-7. Dave Bush, with 4-73 in 15 overs, was the best of the Warminster bowlers.

Pullin then took 3-35 in 10 overs and Robin Iles 4-19 in nine as Warminster could manage only 95 all out in reply, which could have been a lot worse but for Colin Webb's 51 not out.

Nationwide remain second, but have played a game more, as they won by eight wickets at home to Devizes 3rds. Devizes were bowled out for 102, with Brian Francis making 29 and Raj Samant taking 4-20 in 8.4 overs and Stuart Archer 2-13 in 6. Harry Vardon (29 not out) then saw Nationwide home in 20 overs.

Third-placed Purton had a nine wicket success against visiting Burbage and ER 2nds after bowling them out for 93. Pete Lavis (32) top scored as John Dunn took 4-25 in nine overs and Clive Newman 3-30 in 12.

Dave Allen (55 not out) and Gavin Allen (32 not out) then knocked off the runs in the 20th over.

After their first success last week, Westinghouse 2nds like followed it up with a narrow 13 run success over United Churches, a win that puts them within four points of fellow strugglers Burbage and ER 2nds, and at the same time severely damages the Churches' promotion push.

Westinghouse scored 203-4 thanks to Paul Grace (77) and Stuart Thompson (38 not out). John Haines with a spell of 7-24 in nine overs, including a hat-trick, then put the brakes on United Churches' reply as they ended on 190-9.

Division Six

WITH the top three sides all winning, there is no change in the leadership.

Leaders Nettleton made 195-9 at home to Goatacre 3rds, with Tony Bleakin (30), Rod Pratt (29) and Stuart Baker (29) top scoring while Jack Burston took 4-52 in 15 overs and Paul Henley 3-48 in 12.

In reply Goatacre managed only 127-9, thanks largely to Nick Wheatley (64) as Andy Cousins took 3-29 in 15 overs and Ian Sandell 4-33 in 11.

Second placed Beehive Bradford visited fourth placed All Cannings and kept them down to 136 all out, Alan Plank making 38.

A rapid 102 not out from Mick Spong then enabled them to gain a comfortable seven wicket win.

Third placed Chippenham 3rds scored 161-8 at Lacock, with Ray Bullen (58) and Dave Hazelhurst (37 not out) top scoring. While Phil Steans (72) and Paul Hughes (24) were together Lacock looked to have a chance, but with their dismissals they slipped to 150 all out in the 36th over.

Division Seven

QUICKEST win of the day was at Corsham where the home side's 4ths bundled out visiting Potterne 2nds for their lowest league score of just 21. Corsham won by ten wickets.

Cherhill 2nds lost ground in the promotion chase with a six wicket defeat at the hands of second placed Collingbourne 2nds. Cherhill were bowled out for 124, Stuart Greenough top scoring with 29. With 72 from Steve Stamp, Collingbourne's win came with 16 overs remaining.

Leaders Trowbridge A made light work of Bath Civil Service 2nds' challenge as they bowled them out for 62, Ron Bathe (28) top scoring while Dirk Kemp took 3-18 and Stephen Chalk 3-25. Dave Gibson (26 not out) and Steve Neate (27 not out) then saw Trowbridge to an easy ten wicket win.

Cooper-Avon Tyres 2nds keep their title chances alive following a five wicket win at lowly Dauntsey Gentlemen 2nds.

Dauntsey were bowled out for 119 with Gordon Mitchell making 41 and Hiyarkism Santos taking 5-34 in 12 overs. With 33 from John Helps, Cooper-Avon then moved on to victory as Peter Johnson took 3-13 in five overs.

Marshfield 3rds made 146 all out at home to struggling Beanacre 2nds, with Nick Paling making 37 and Geoff Halls 29 as Tim Mullins took 5-50 in his 15 overs for Beanacre.

With Martin Roper taking 3-15 in five overs and Simon Bishop 3-42 in 11 Beanacre were bowled out for 89.

Division Eight

LEADERS Biddestone 3rds entertained Swindon 4ths and scored 190-7, with Nick Hudson (40) and Daryll Smith (39) top scoring.

In reply, thanks to Tony Laggart (76) and John Furkin (70), Swindon gained a comfortable six wicket victory.

With United Churches 2nds and Chippenham 4ths both losing, Devizes 4ths moved up to third thanks to their six wicket win over visiting Blunsdon 2nds.

The visitors were dismissed for 146, with Ray Trotman top scoring with 53. Lee Pitman took 3-25 and Felvin Keen 3-26. Alan Swinburn (37) and John Bedbrook (31 not out) then spear-headed Devizes' reply and although Steve Fairclough took 3-36 they moved to a comfortable wuccess.

The surprise perhaps was Chippenham 4ths' home defeat at the hands of Bathford 2nds.

Chippenham ade 141 all out with Aaron Quereshi (38) and Taff Davis (37) the major contributors while Mike Hunter took 4-56 in 15 overs. Thanks to Mike Noel (52 not out) and John Higgs (34), Bathford's win came with three overs remaining.

United Churches 2nds entertained an in-form Highworth 2nds and saw them score 222-7 thanks mainly to Danny Furkins (54) and Andy Furkins (33) while Peter Sharp bowled well to take 5-39 in ten overs.

Furkins then took 6-30 in 12 overs and Andy Simmonds 2-15 in six as Churches collapsed to 61 all out.

Bottom of the table All Cannings 2nds scored a useful 199-7 at Warminster 4ths, thanks mainly to Eddy Gambel (102 not out) and Mike Golding (23). Dave Roberts, with 2-44 in 15 overs, was the pick of the Warminster attack. Thanks to an aggressive 91 by Mark Selmes, Warminster picked up a welcome win by two wickets as they knocked the runs off in 29 overs, as George Hargreaves took 2-19 in 8 overs.