Title race hots up as leading trio all win

Leaders Calne entertained Beanacre and some accurate bowling restricted them to 130 for seven, with Rob Howard making 34 and Paul Gilbert 37. Dave Beal took 3-31 in nine overs.

Josh Breet (66) and Chris Downham (25 not out) saw Calne to a comfortable seven-wicket victory with 10 overs to spare.

Second place Box rattled up 234 for one against Burbage and ER, with Richard Foley making a fine 114 not out and Andrew Davis 50 not out. Foley followed up with 3-20 in nine overs and with Jack Crawford taking 6-32 in 15 overs Burbage were bowled out for 112.

Westinghouse were at home to winless Buscot Park and scored a daunting 245-3, thanks to Paul Bailey (42), Chris Ferris (27 not out), Tristan Francis (67) and Mat Dix (50 not out). Accurate bowling then restricted Buscot to 134-5, with a patient 64 not out from Hamish Miller, as John Cleverley took 2-14 in 11 overs.

The mid-table clash at Biddestone saw the home side dismiss visiting Bath Civil Service for 180, with John Fair (33) top scoring. Mike Tasker (3-43 in 13 overs) and Dwaine Perry (4-32 in 12) were the pick of the home side's bowling.

Perry followed up with an excellent 88 not out and with Mat Lennon making 60 not out, Biddestone gained a seven-wicket victory with eight balls remaining.

Division Two

COLLINGBOURNE regained top spot from Nationwide House by virtue of gaining a couple of extra bonus points.

Thanks mainly to Tom Edmunds (91), Collingbourne closed on 214-7 at winless Bradford Town. John Aitkin then took 4-16 in 10 overs and James Addis 4-6 in 4.4 as Bradford were shot out for 66.

At Nationwide, visitors Swindon Civil Service scored 184-9, with Shaun Smith (41) top scoring. Will Sherwood (82 not out) and Stuart Archer (77 not out) then took Nationwide to a comfortable win after losing two early wickets.

Lechlade, in a distant third place, bowled hosts Minety out for 130, with David Joy taking 5-25 in seven overs and J Khan 3-28 in 15. Andy Brown, with a patient 58, Roger Pettifer, with a solid 64, then anchored the Lechlade reply and helped them to a four-wicket victory.

For Minety Richard Kinch bowled well to end with 3-32 in 15 overs.

Cooper-Avon Tyres slipped a place as they lost an exciting and high-scoring match at lowly Highworth. Dave Rigby (59 not out) top-scored for Cooper-Avon in their 236-8. Then Chris Mead (76) and Roger Miller (53) set Highworth on their way. Needing two for victory from the last ball with the last pair in, a boundary was struck to give them victory by the narrowest of margins.

At Great Bedwyn, visiting Sutton Veny were restricted to 135-7, with Darren Freegard taking 4-23 in 15 overs. Richard Lauder (52 not out) then guided Bedwyn to an eight-wicket win with three overs to spare.

Division Three

UPSET of the day was leaders Cherhill's defeat at the hands of Urchfont.

Mark Bateman (82) and Michael Brooks (80) helped Urchfont to a daunting 251-7. Then Cherhill opted for batting practice and closed on 169-5, with Jim Barnes making a patient 55 not out.

Wanborough were also surprised by visiting Moredon Royal Oak. The visitors scored 230-4, with Roger Morton making 82, Chris Moreton 66 and Barry Fellars 42 not out. Wanborough just failed in the run chase, ending on 223-8, with Douglas Millington making 45 and Paul Sore 38. The difference perhaps was the spell of 4-58 in 15 overs by Ian Morton for Moredon.

At the other end of the table the meeting between the bottom pair saw a home success for Spye Park over visitors Bathford. Paul Murray (43) top scored in a Bathford total of 143 all out as Spye's bowlers shared the wickets. Paul Hughes took 3-47 in 13 overs, John Bathe 3-40 in 13 and John Beal 3-12 in 7.3. John Haines (58) and John Beal junior (50 not out) then saw Spye home by six wickets with seven overs in hand.

The match at Dauntsey where Seagry were the visitors was abandoned after a heavy storm flooded the pitch.

Division Four

WITH two-thirds of the season gone the promotion spots look more than likely to have been almost decided, with the top two winning again.

Heytesbury visited Mildenhall and saw Graham Staplin get 63 in their total of 207-4. In reply a fine 96 from Roy Jelf set Heytesbury on their way to a six-wicket victory.

Coates were put in to bat by visiting Blunsdon and were bowled out for just 69, with Doug Fisher taking 5-31 in 13 overs. Fisher then hit a rapid 40 not out and with Ian Palmer (24 not out) saw Blunsdon to an eight-wicket win.

Wroughton Wranglers' chances were dealt a blow at Ramsbury who scored 176-9, thanks to Nick Passenger (43) and Richard Gilligan 48. Tim McMeekin took 3-21 and Ian Evans 3-40. Paseenger responded by taking 4-23 and, with Shaun Palmer taking 3-34, Wroughton were bowled out for 99.

At the foot of the table Bradford Town 2nds visited Corsham 3rds and made 163 all out, largely thanks to a fine 73 not out by Dave Edwards. For Corsham, Richard Toghill took 4-43 in 13 overs.

Edwards then took 2-16 in eight overs but 45 from John Gale helped Corsham to a three-wicket win with two overs to spare.

At Lambourn, the home side raced to 259-8, thanks to Ian Hobbs (75), Daniel Boucher (35) and Peter Colbourne (31). They then bowled visiting Westbury 3rds out for 60, with Kim Read (4-10 in 7.2 overs) and Steve Munday (4-30 in 11) doing the damage.

Division Five

WARMINSTER 3rds consolidated their top spot with a comfortable eight-wicket victory at Chippenham 3rds.

Chippenham were bowled out for 125, with Nobby Tucker top scoring with 42. Ed Skinner (34) and Tom Bain (22 not out) then saw Warminster home with nine overs remaining.

Avebury slipped to a surprise three-wicket defeat at United Churches. Paul Gater (42) top scored for Avebury in their 178-9 as Neil Lang took 4-30 in 15 overs. Dominic Fry responded with 3-25 in his 15 overs, but James Hill (65 not out) and Duncan Mead (45) saw Churches home with just four balls to spare.

Wilcot took advantage of this slip to take over second place, although they have played a game more. Andrew Fyfe's 60 helped them to 175-7 at Keevil before a fine spell of pace bowling from Garry Smith, who finished with figures of 8-25, saw host Keevil bowled out for 66.

Lavington picked up useful points with a comfortable win over bottom placed Nettleton. Lavington made 205-4 then bowled visiting Nettleton out for 117.

Division Six

THE leading duo look almost certain of promotion after both won.

Leaders Litten Tree scored 203-6 at home to Calne 2nds, with Colin Blake top scoring with 82. Julian Brown (5-37 in 12 overs) and Steve King (4-29 in 11) then bowled Calne out for 129.

Charlie Doel's 54 not out helped Lacock to 181 all out at Buscot Park 2nds. Tony Watts took 5-44 in 15 overs. Buscot then rattled along at nearly six an over as Ronnie Fernandez (66) and Colin Pratt (50 not out) saw them to a five-wicket victory.

Bottom of the table Box 2nds visited Cooper-Avon Tyres 2nds and saw them score 234 all out, with Nathan Mantle making 67 and Buphendre 41. In a spirited reply, Box fell 12 short of victory despite fine 87s from Elgin Diaz and Tim Jenks.

Devizes 3rds hit a daunting 266-9 at home to lowly Goatacre 3rds, with Nick Francis (93) leading the way. Andy Langan (5-37 in 10 overs) and 15-year-old Own Burgess (3-11 in 3.2 overs) then bowled Goatacre out for 92.

Division Seven

BATH Civil Service 2nds consolidated their mid-table position with a seven-wicket win over visitors Dauntsey Gentlemen, who scored 178-5.

Lowly Beanacre 2nds were shot out for 59 at home to Nationwide House 2nds as Jim Reeves took 8-39 in 13.4 overs. Ian Vardon (23 not out) then led Nationwide to an easy nine-wicket win.

At All Cannings, Richard Holman (52) and Adam Crouteur (45) helped the home team to 219-9, with Nick Gerrish taking 4-14 in five overs for visiting Bradford Town 3rds. Keith Bills then had a fine spell of 7-41 in 15 overs as Bradford were dismissed for 95.

A strengthened Potterne 2nds restricted visiting Trowbridge A to 132-8; Neil Ashton (41 not out) top scoring as Fred Kerley took 3-29 in 15 overs and Johnathan Beddows 2-8 in seven. In a rain affected game, Potterne had a revised target of 109 in 31 overs and with Steve Fortune (56 not out) and Graham Gaiger (35 not out) scored them with six overs to spare to give Potterne their first win by eight wickets.

Division Eight

DEVIZES 4ths still seek that elusive first league victory.

At Collingbourne the home side's 2nds scored 228-5, thanks largely to Ed Aldry (126) and Rob Stamp 37. Gordon Mackrell then took 8-18 as Devizes were dismissed for 106.

Leaders Beehive Bradford look well set for promotion as they scored 194-8 at home to Swindon 4ths. Mick Spong (45), Jim Doherty (38 not out) and John Shepherd (38) were the leading scorers. Lee Hamley then took 5-33 in 13 overs, Andy Goddard 3-14 in six and Doherty 2-12 in seven as Swindon slipped to 61 all out.

Cherhill 2nds consolidated second place with a five-wicket victory over visitors Wootton Bassett 4ths. Bassett scored 179-8, with Garry Emms (54) top scoring. Tim Carpenter, with 4-40 in 12 overs, was the pick of the home side's bowlers. Cherhill then raced away at six runs an over and with Carpenter (34) and Pat Andrews (41) leading the way the runs were knocked off in 34 overs.

The mid-table encounter between Biddestone 3rds and Highworth 2nds went in favour of Biddestone. Highworth scored 156 all out, with Andy Horn making 38 and Chris Jones taking 3-33. With Neil Millard (40), Doug Miller (35 not out) and Kevin Mitchell (24), Biddestone scored the runs for the loss of five wickets with 11 overs to spare.

At the foot of the table Bathford 2nds entertained United Churches 2nds and scored 121.

With Mike Hunter (30) top scoring for Churches Adam Paprocki took 7-33 in 15 overs. Paul Duffy (24 not out) and Adam Rumbold (23 not out) then steered the visitors to a six-wicket success.

Warminster 4ths entertained Chippenham 4ths and scored 188-9, with Tony Bush (39 not out) top scoring. David Howden, 3-19 in 12 overs, and Peter Davidson, 4-33, then helped bowl Chippenham out for 140 in reply.