Ref. 10273-04WILTSHIRE CRICKET LEAGUE: CHERHILL stepped up their title challenge in Division Two as they cruised to maximum points by crushing visiting Highworth by ten wickets.

The visitors were dismissed for 145, Chris Mead top scoring with 39 not out, as Aaron Taylor took three for 36 in 13.4 overs and Alan Eades three for 39 in 13.

John Candy (78 not out) and Mark Gresham (52 not out) then knocked the runs off in just 19 overs.

Swindon Civil service just maintain their lead following a narrow two run victory at Urchfont.

They were bowled out for 160, with Andy Mildenhall making 50 as Alan Crouch took four for 38 in 15 overs and Mark Bateman four for 41 in 15.

Bateman followed up with 41 and Adam Slater 44 but to no avail, Urchfont closing on 158 for eight when their overs ran out.

Great Bedwyn kept up the pressure in third place as they also won narrowly in a high scoring encounter with Cooper-Avon Tyres.

Bedwyn made 263 for five, thanks mainly to Neil Maycock (109), Darren Freegard (52) and George Stone (46). Cooper-Avon fell eight runs short as they closed on 255 for eight.

Buscot Park slipped to fourth as they lost at home to Sutton Veny by six wickets.

Buscot, thanks to some steady batting from Chris Cook (59), Ronny Fernandez (33), Mani Fernandez (29) and Rob Owen (33) made 201 for nine. Andy Frost (64), supported by Andy Pinnell (38) then led the visitors to a welcome success.

Division One

BEANACRE sprang a second shock in two weeks as they finally moved off the foot of the table following their narrow victory at leaders Calne.

Batting first, Calne scored 211 for eight, with Lee Sheppard making 74 and Dan Shuker 51 not out.

In response a fine 108 not out from opener Rob Howard guided Beanacre to a one wicket success.

Calne's defeat enabled Collingbourne to go to the top as their good run continued at Nationwide House. Graham Chandler (79) top scored in a Collingbourne total of 217 for eight, Raj Samant taking four for 43 in 11 overs.

Nationwide's batsmen were then pinned down by some accurate bowling, notably Barry Langfield who took two for 15 in 15 overs, and ended with 131 for five.

Third placed Westinghouse entertained Potterne and scored 169 for seven, with Chris Ferris making a valuable 73 not out as Fred Kerley picked up three for 26 in 15 overs.

Potterne were then bowled out for 118, with Fred Gaiger top scoring with 46 and most of the damage being done by Steve Coombs, who took five for 36.

With Biddestone winning at home to Burbage and ER, a defeat which left the visitors propping up the table, the top four sides are now covered by just 13 points.

John Mason (65) and Dwaine Perry (66) enabled Biddestone to reach 218 for six, with Nick Cook taking four for 31. Gordon Bedwell then took six for 46 in 14 overs as Burbage were restricted to 129 for eight in reply.

Only 20 points cover the bottom five sides at present and surprisingly Purton, following a home defeat at the hands of Bath Civil Service, are getting dragged into the relagation battle.

They were bowled out for just 118 and but for 53 from Robby Horsefall would have been in a worse plight.

A brisk 55 not out by John Cook then eased Civil Service to a comfortable eight wicket win with 22 overs left.

Division Three

LEADERS Spye Park visited Bathford and bowled them out for 183, John Beal taking five for 21 in 14.2 overs.

Andy Ellis (53 not out) and John Bathe (43) then steered them to a comfortable seven wicket victory.

Second placed Seagry also picked up a seven wicket win at the expense of Moredon Royal Oak, a defeat that consigns Moredon to the foot of the table.

They were restricted to 147 for nine, with Steve Williams making a valuable 50. Alan Lewis, with three for 38 in eight overs, was the most successful Seagry bowler.

Paul Lewis (91 not out) and Ian Thurgood (38 not out) then saw Seagry home with 16 balls left.

Joint second are Wroughton, who gained an easy nine wicket win at the expense of Dauntsey Gentlemen.

With Mark McMeeking taking seven for 41 in 15 overs, Dauntsey were bowled out for 93. Hendy Alleyne (42) and Mark Nettlefold (36 not out) then saw Wroughton home.

Wanborough gained a narrow four run success against Swindon 3rds, which lifted them from the bottom of the table. Paul Sore (46) and Mike Pethick (48) helped Wanborough to 209 for eight as Andy Phipps took four for 58 in 15 overs. Mike Clark, four for 46, and Andy Thompson, three for 39, then just managed to keep Swindon's reply to 204 for seven, with Alan Biggins (64) and Magnus Painter (54) the main contributers.

Heytesbury also picked up valuable points as they amassed 270 for four against Blunsdon and bowled out their opponents for just 119 in the 40th over.

Division Four

THE title race has become a three team battle as Avebury lost top spot following a second defeat, this time at home to Wilcot.

Avebury scored 208 for four, with Rob Gater making 92 not out and Neil Hollister 35 not out as Graham Smith bowled a tight spell to end with one for 24 from 15 overs. Vince Ogbourne responded with three for 38 in 13 overs, but a fine 102 not out by Graham Staplin saw Wilcot to a three wicket win with two balls to spare.

This defeat enabled Lambourn to go top as they defeated lowly Mildenhall by 90 runs. Ian Hobbs (81 not out) and Graham Hawkins (45) saw Lambourn to 229 for five. Accurate bowling then restricted the Mildenhall response to 139 for seven, with Vic Staplin making 48 and Lionel Coles 23 not out.

Bradford Town closed up in third place after a six wicket home win against Coates.

Division Five

IN the meeting of the top two at Keevil against leaders Litten Tree the places were reversed as Keevil won by 65 runs to go top.

Man-of-the-match was Kelvin Lockwood for Keevil who hit an excellent 73 in their 163 all out and then took six for 25 as Litten Tree were bowled out for 98.

Lavington are in third spot after a five wicket home win against Nettleton. Ian Witt (60) anchored the Nettleton innings as they were bowled out for 124, John Wiltshire taking five for 22 in 8.4 overs and John Amor two for 22 in 12. Alan Cousins responded with four for 34 in 13.1 overs but Paul Bailey (37) and Alan Wade (30) steered Lavington to victory.

Buscot Park 2nds' slump continued as they were surprisingly defeated by lowly Devizes 3rds. Neil Phillips (40) and Paul Clarke (42) helped Buscot Park to 177 all out as 15-year-old Owen Burgess took three for 43 in 10 overs and Rich Read three for 34 in 15. Peter Crowe (83 not out) and Jethro Wookey (47) then made light work of the chase as Devizes won by eight wickets.

Burbage and ER 2nds finally got back to winning ways with a comfortable 101 run home success against Chippenham 3rds. Thanks to Paul Swatton (81) and son Dan (82) putting on 101 for the fourth wicket, Burbage closed at 263 for seven.

Peter Deck then took four for 33 in 11 overs as Chippenham were restricted to 162 for eight in reply, Ray Bullen contributing a solid 69 not out.

United Churches defeated visiting Purton 2nds by 85 runs. Duncan Mead (75) and Andrew Foster (55 not out) helped Churches to 256 for six, then, Mark Oliver, four for 56 in 15 overs, and Neil Laing, three for 34 in 15, restricted Purton to 171 for eight in reply.

Division Six

BIDDESTONE 2nds stay top following a hard faught 25 run win at All Cannings.

Pete Talbot (34) and Graham Horn (25) helped Biddestone to 153 all out as Alex Husk took four for 26. In response, Rob Sykes took two for 33 in 15 overs and Steve Thornton three for 28 in 15 to restrict All Cannings reply to 128 for nine, Richard Mansell (31) and Richard Sykes (28) top scoring.

Westinghouse 2nds raced to 258 for seven at Goatacre 3rds, thanks mainly to Chris Penfold (57), Colin Grace (53) and Steve Dix (22). Andy Day then took five for 59 in 13.1 overs for Westinghouse as Goatacre were bowled out for 182.

Division Seven

CHERHILL scored 214 all out at Dauntsey Gentlemen 2nds, with Dave Hewings making 67 and John Beattie 42, and Gordon Mitchell taking six for 29 in eight overs for Dauntsey.

In their reply Gerry Meal (58) and Andy Cook (28) offered stubborn resistance but Tim Carpenter, three for 57 in 15 overs, and Paul Andrews, four for 58 in 13, bowled them out for 156.

Potterne 2nds scored 203 all out thanks mainly to Brendan Baker (51) and Paul Stevens (34) against visitors United Churches 2nds. Mike Stanto bowled well to take six for 43 in 10 overs. Baker then took four for 47 in 15 overs and Churches were dismissed for 137, Mike Davis top scoring with 37, and still seek that elusive first win.

Division Eight

CORSHAM 4ths slipped to an unexpected seven wicket defeat at home to Swindon 4ths after scoring 179 for five.

Collingbourne 2nds bowled visiting Biddestone 3rds out for 146, with Gordon Mackrell picking up four more wickets.

Julian Reece (64) then steered Collingbourne to a comfortable eight wicket win.

Chippenham 4ths restricted visitors Bathford 2nds to 157 for nine, with Jamie Higgs scoring 57 and Chris Aguera 49 and Phil Tryner picking up five for 39 in 13 overs. Phil Adams (59 not out) and James Vincent (71) then saw Chippenham to an eight wicket victory and useful points.

All Cannings 2nds raced to 300 for five against Blunsdon 2nds, with Alan Plank making an unbeaten 108 and Steve Parker contributing 70. Blunsdon were then bowled out for 130 as Richard Smith (49) top scored.

Devizes 4ths travelled to Highworth 2nds and returned still seeking their first win. Highworth scored 191 all out, Andy Goodfield taking four for 31 in eight overs, as Simon Green top scored with 41. Devizes were then bowled out for 99 as Andy Simons wrecked their innings with a spell of six for seven in six overs.