Purton watch title slip (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Purton watch title slip

Sam Shephard troops from the field after being dismissed in their crunch game against Bath Civil Service Ref: 99112-69DURING the course of the Wiltshire League Division One campaign, six clubs have had spells at the top. Box led early on before falling away, then Lechlade, Purton, Great Bedwyn and Wootton Bassett shared it among themselves.

Lechlade's challenge faltered, leaving Purton and Westinghouse vying for the title.

Purton went into the last round of matches needing a win to secure the title, but it wasn't to be and their defeat at the hands of Bath Civil Service gave their Chippenham rivals the crown.

Purton struggled for runs from the start as Paul Wood took 4-29, and they eventually closed on a disappointing 116-9.

Civil Service also found runs hard to come by but, in a tense finish, they emerged victorious by one wicket with three overs remaining.

Lowly Spye Park were the visitors to Westinghouse and scored a respectable 184 all out with Malcolm Pagett hitting 47 and veteran John Cleverley collecting 5-20 in 10 economical overs.

John Peters, though, was in form again for Westinghouse, his unbeaten 93 taking him past 1,000 runs for the season, and Chris Derris's 39 not out saw Westinghouse to an eight-wicket victory.

Joint third on points were Wootton Bassett and Great Bedwyn, the former taking third spot by virtue of having won one game more.

A century from Juggy Chahal set up a 23-run win for Bassett against Box.

Dave Crawford (3-60) picked up early wickets for the visitors, before Chahal (127) and Neil Twine (66) put on 188 for the fourth wicket.

Requiring 248 to win, Box put up a brave effort at 224-8, with Tony Trotman (60), Gerald Hayward (42) and Crawford (42) leading their reply. Ian Lancaster took 3-58.

The mid-table clash at Calne saw Lechlade run out 74-run winners.

Lechlade made a daunting 297 all out with Paul Rowley (53) top-scoring.

Chris Downham hit an impressive 146 in the reply but they eventually fell short on 223-8.

DIVISION TWO

Champions elect Potterne visited struggling Sutton Veny and ran out winners by three wickets.

Rich Kerley took 3-40 in 12 overs and Dan Gibson 3-50 in 12 to limit Veny to 190-7, before Graham Gaiger (46 not out) and Steve Fortune (35) saw Potterne home.

Nationwide House, meanwhile, clinched the runners-up spot as they despatched Cooper-Avon Tyres by seven wickets.

Cooper-Avon slumped to 84 all out, Mark Morris taking 3-14 in 12 overs and Steve Lewis 3-27 in 8.3.

Mark (36) and Kevin Flay (33) then helped the hosts to their success.

Avebury consolidated fourth place as they scored 229-4 at home to Blunsdon, Dominic Fry with 80 not out and Greg Dix 42.

Peter Force-Jones then took 3-20 in nine overs as Blunsdon were bowled out for 133, Kevin Aubrey top-scoring with 31.

At the foot of the table, Urchfont won for only the second time, defeating Buscot Park by 28 runs.

Chris Cook took 3-39 in 12 overs and Ronny Fernandez 5-34 in 9.4 to limit Urchfont to 169, but despite Nick Phillips' 58, Buscot were then despatched for 141 as Kevin Bottomley took 6-31 in nine.

Swindon Civil Service finished their season with victory at Seagry.

They posted a total of 181-6 thanks to Magnus Painter (84 not out) and Martin Spackman (30), with Nick Lancaster taking 5-51 in his 12 overs.

Seagry were then skittled for 132, Paul Lewis and Paul Bailey both with 25, while the wickets were shared between, Paul MacDonald (4-46), Nick Money (3-19) and Andy Mildenhall (2-10).

DIVISION THREE

Burbage & Easton Royal and Moredon Royal Oak ended level on points at the top of the division, with Burbage taking the title by virtue of more victories.

Burbage bowled Swindon 3rd out for 62 and went on to win by five wickets, while Moredon also finished with a win.

They dismissed Cherhill for 73 as Tom Henk took 6-2 in seven overs and Latif Hussain 3-37 in seven, and then clinched an eight-wicket win.

Wanborough consolidated third place with a win at struggling Wilcot.

A fine 116 by Tom Woodward, supported by Richard Cox (40) helped Wanborough to 219-7, and Andy Clinning and Dave Smith both finished with figures of 4-41 as Wilcot went for 94.

Runs were hard to come by at Corsham where the home side's third team entertained Lambourn.

Will Collier (27) top-scored in a Corsham total of 132-9, Raynor Sequera taking 4-37 in 11 overs.

Lambourn were then bowled out for 103, Les Adams with 25, as Scott Flemming took 6-34 in 9.3 overs, supported by 2-21 in 12 from Simon Acornley.

DIVISION FOUR

Runners-up Bradford Town had a shock as visiting Coates bowled them out for just 132 of which James Edwards scored a vital 54 and Marcus Brown 34.

Sam McAllister (3-42 in 10 overs) and Ron Grace (3-45 in 11) did the damage.

Bradford hit back as Sam Edwards took 6-27 in 10 overs, and Dean Bird 3-13 to shoot Coates out for 49.

Heytesbury hosted Purton 2nd and at 13-4 were in some trouble. They eventually reached 185-8, Robert Preddy with 3-41 in 12 overs, and that proved more than enough as Purton for 74.

DIVISION FIVE

Champions elect Wootton Bassett 2nd were given a shock when they were bowled out for 114 at Beehive Bradford.

Barry Turtell hit 33, Craig McDay 29 and John Millington 24 in that total, and Paul Harris responded with 5-39 in a reply which eventually saw Beehive win by two wickets.

Runners-up Chippenham 3rd rattled up 260-6 declared in just 39 overs against visiting Mildenhall, Chris Day unbeaten on 87 and Mark Harrison hitting 40.

In reply, Mildenhall went for 90.

Nettleton comfortably defeated visitors Devizes 3rd by eight wickets after bowling them out for a mere 54, Steve James taking 3-7 in three overs.

Bottom of the table Warminster 3rd reached 170-7 at home to United Churches, but Alan Gooding (62) and Richard Tong (62) made light of the target as Churches coasted to a seven-wicket victory.

DIVISION SIX

All Cannings became champions by the narrowest of margins, just one point ahead of Bradford Town 2nd.

Elsewhere, Lacock consolidated third place by defeating visitors Calne 2nd by 140 runs.

John Foley (50), Roger Lines (77) and Cliff Thompsett (51 not out) helped Lacock to 258-5 before Anthony Edwards (4-34) and Clive Harding (3-34 in 12 overs) bowled Calne out for 118 in 27 overs.

Dave Holcombe top-scored for Calne with 41.

At the foot of the table Goatacre 3rd scored 171-9 at home to Westbury 3rd, Steve Baker contributing with 41, and then bowled their visitors out for 118.

DIVISION SEVEN

Dauntsey Gentlemen and Biddestone 3rd take the top two places with Dauntsey as champions.

At home to Marshfield 3rd, Dauntsey scored 220-7 thanks to Hugh Clements' unbeaten 60, Dan Sharratt's 51 and Phil Biggs' 47.

They then bowled Marshfield out for 89.

At Biddestone, visiting Cherhill made 187-9 with Dave Hewins hitting 34 and Ben Webber 31, while James Taylor took 3-40 in 12 overs and Sam Thornton 3-38.

Taylor's 55 not out and Phil Boor's 48 then enabled Biddestone to take victory by six wickets.

DIVISION EIGHT

With the top three sides all winning there was no change at the top.

The title went to Potterne 2nd, who ended their season with a 105-run win at All Cannings 2nd.

Dave Evans (56 not out) and James Bathe (30) top-scored in Potterne's 193-6, and John Dunn then took 4-26 in 10 overs as All Cannings were bowled out for 88, Garry Hargeaves top scoring with 28.

Runners-up in their first season were North Bradley, while Swindon 4th visited Trowbridg B.

They scored 152-7, with Stuart Roopi hitting 45, and then limited Trowbridge to 132, with Garry Baden collecting 3-11 in four overs and Steve Vass 3-33 in seven.

Warminster 4th won at Blunsdon 2nd after posting 138-8.

Dan Washer took 3-34 for Blunsdon but that was overshadowed as Dave Roberts rattled up 8-30 to restrict the home side to 53.

United Churches 2nd made 166 against Biddestone 4th, David Timms leading the way with 55. Neil Laing then took 3-9 in 12 overs and Neil Thomas had 3-27 in 12 as Biddestone were bowled out for 97.

Highworth 2nd visited Spye Park 2nd in their final fixture, and bowled them out for 124.

Ross Paget and Rich Farmer both hit 29, with Andy Simmons taking 5-37 and Andy Firkin 2-33.

Highworth, thanks to Joe White (38), Barry Jones (28 not out) and Danny Firkin (29 not out) then went on to a comfortable eight-wicket win.