BIDDESTONE stayed competitive despite slumping to their first league defeat against a professional and well drilled Swindon side.

Visiting Biddestone for the first time, Swindon chose to bat first and scored an impressive 258 for 6 in their 45 overs.

All the home side bowlers were expensive as the city side demonstrated why they are league favourites with aggressive batting right down the order. Dwaine Perry (2 for 55) and Gordon Bedwell (2 for 41) were the pick of the bowlers.

In reply, Biddestone lost early wickets and never looked like achieving the runs required.

A fourth wicket partnership by Dwaine Perry (50) and Kris Boulton (84) briefly raised hopes and there was a spirited 25 from Gordon Bedwell but in the end the villagers closed on 188 for 8 to lose by 70 runs.

The seconds lost for the second successive week with a dreadful batting display as they travelled to Bredon in Worcestershire for their league match.

Bredon were put in to bat and scored 183, thanks in main to a captains innings of 70 from Mike Draper.

The bowlers all performed well within Paul Tasker returning to the seconds with 3 for 36 and Sam Thornton picking up 3 for 19 towards the end of the innings.

But Biddestone's batting showed its frailty and they slumped to a 101 run defeat.

Youngster Chris Lawton top scored with 21 despite running out his father for just six.

See this week's Gazette for photographs