CORSHAM moved a step nearer to ensuring their West of England Premier League Division One status with a winning draw at home to Bath on Saturday.

The result, which leaves Corsham sitting comfortably in mid-table, may also have scuppered Bath's hopes of securing back-to-back championships as they lost more ground to leaders Cheltenham.

The hosts were hoping to make it their third home win against their neighbours in three years but they had to settle for the draw as Bath's tail-enders put together a defiant last wicket stand.

Corsham captain Neil Shardlow was satisfied with the performance and said he felt it would take something drastic to drag his side back into relegation trouble.

He said: "We played well and even though we didn't get the win we were looking for, a winning draw is still a positive result.

"Before the game I would have snapped your hand off if you had told me that was going to happen.

"Although we are still not mathematically safe, it looks as though we will be playing in this league again next season which is a great relief.

"Everyone around us lost and there is some breathing space between us and the bottom few sides."

After winning the toss, Corsham elected to bat and openers Peter Dennett and 18-year-old Tom Abbott provided a solid start with a 54 run partnership, before Abbott was caught out for 24.

The home side continued to score quickly but wickets tumbled and after 30 overs they were 150-5.

Their last wicket fell in the 52nd over with the score on 222.

Roger Sillence top scored on 45 and Toby Sharpe (43) and Dennett (30) also made important contributions.

Shardlow said: "We were disappointed with the total because at one point it looked like being far higher.

"Our problem was as we scored quickly we also lost wickets and so didn't have many wickets in hand."

In reply, Bath were soon in trouble at 26-3 and then 30-4 and wickets continued to fall throughout with Sillence picking up 4-38 and Sharpe and Paul Clifford taking two a piece.

With seven overs remaining Nick Potter was out lbw to Sillence, but despite several changes in bowlers Bath's last wicket stand stayed firm to finish on 152-9.