PREVIOUS champions Goatacre crashed out of the National Village Knockout when they were easily defeated by visitors Shrewton in the third round on Sunday.

Goatacre got off to a flying start with 21 runs in the first two overs. The wicket of Ferris for four turned things around and excellent bowling by Clancy and Stormonth saw Goatacre stutter to 39-3 after 17 overs as Curwood and Jonathan Wilkins fell cheaply. Clancy finished with figures of 3-23 from his nine overs.

Peter Turner was unlucky to be caught behind, bringing in Kevin Iles, and a watchful partnership of 60 with Robert Turner gave Goatacre renewd hope.

Turner was caught for 31 and then Iles began to take the bowling apart in a flurry of boundaries. Parrish and Ed Wilkins fell cheaply but three boundaries in an over from John Wilkins gave Iles good support in a partnership of 24.

Wilkins was run out and then Iles fell in the penultimate over for 77 leaving Goatacre on 171 all out.

In reply Shrewton were given a good start by Stormonth and Willis, who put on 60 for the first wicket before Stormonth was caught behind by Ferris off Heer for 49.

Willis quickly followed, but Cruse (33) and Bennett (19) put Shrewton firmly in control. Two wickets for Kevin Iles gave Goatacre hope but a tremendous innings of 50 not out off just 31 balls by Clancy, saw Shrewton to an easy victory by five wickets with seven overs to spare, after another poor performance by Goatacre.

The previous day Goatacre entertained Bredon in a Wilts & Glos Division 1 game and lost by 48 runs.

Bredon won the toss and batted, and Adam Iles gave the hosts a wonderful start when he bowled Hall with the third ball of the innings.

A good partnership of 60 between Farey and Fenney took the score to 70 but then three quick wickets left the score at 113-4 after 30 overs.

Fisher, in partnership with Young and Bridge, then hammered the bowling for 154 in the last 20 overs, with Fisher going on to make 90 and Young 42.

For Goatacre Curwood bowled better than his 2-88 would suggest, but the hosts were left to chase 267-7.

Goatacre made a terrible start in reply, losing their first three wickets for 23 and after 10 overs they had slumped to 43-4.

Jonathan Wilkins and Sam Parrish then began to rebuild the innings, putting on 40 before Parrish was adjudged lbw for 19 with the score at 84.

Edward Wilkins joined his brother and the pair put on 45 before Edward was caught on the square leg boundary for 21. John Wilkins then joined his son and they put together a partnership of 35 before Jonathan fell for a well-made 64 with the score at 164-8.

John Wilkins was bowled for 18 but a good partnership between Adam Iles, who scored 20, and Matthew Wilkins, who made 17 not out, helped Goatacre to a score of 219 before the final wicket fell in the last over, leaving Bredon the winners by 48 runs.

Goatacre 2nds played at Apperley and lost by 40 runs with three wickets for Matt Holmes and 25 for Ben Miller being the highlights.

The 3rd XI, thanks to 84 not out and four wickets for Andrew Donegan, won by 14 runs in a low-scoring encounter at All Cannings.