MALMESBURY captain Ed Shellard blamed the umpires for calling off their game against Dumbleton claiming it could threaten their position in the West of England league.

Shellard said the umpires were influenced by the Dumbleton players who had been happy to continue earlier when they were in a stronger position.

It leaves Malmesbury at the bottom of Glos/Wilts Two needing to win every game this season to stand a realistic chance to stay up.

That includes a game against top-of-the-table Gloucester City Winget on Saturday.

"They were ridiculous. I don't know what they are scared of. I think it must be because of litigation. They are just a bunch of wimps," said Shellard.

"At no point was there any rain to cause standing water on the square.

"Sure there was some drizzle, but the conditions never became dangerous. One side wanted to play, the other did not.

"They were a weakened side and had lost three games in a row and did not want to lose again.

"Maybe there was enough to call off a test match but this is club cricket and people have worked hard to get the game on and they had travelled."

Malmesbury had started poorly losing their first three batsmen for 32 runs before Jeremy Newman (44 not out) and Ollie Langton (29 not out) took the score to a reasonable 94-3 off 21 overs before the game was called off.

In the same league Biddestone's away trip to Cinderford St. John was abandoned before any play was possible.

Despite being favourites to win Biddestone captain Kris Boulton was philosophical with the call.

"They were quite keen to play and we were about to travel and their captain called and said the pitch was under water.

"I think with games like that, with the rain, if there's any doubts then lets knock it on the head.

"You end up getting into run rates and it is not a proper game then."

Biddestone face Rockhampton in a crucial clash with a win, enough to give Biddestone some healthy breathing space over their visitors in the hunt for the second promotion place.

Marlborough host Cinderford St. John looking to do Malmesbury and Marshfield a favour after their mid-table clash at Hinton Charterhouse was rained out.

Goatacre managed to play all but one of their overs in their Glos/Wilts One game at Warminster before the heavens came to the aid of the home side.

Goatacre had scored a tremendous total of 222-6 before the game was abandoned.

Captain Sam Parish said: "We thought we had a pretty good score and there was another chance to do well so it was disappointing."

They play Bredon on Saturday with Parish saying the team owe the visitors one for their defeat earlier in the season.

Devizes host high-flying Trowbridge in a must win match on Saturday after their Colwall game was called off, while Swindon host Colwall after rain washed out their Bredon game.

In Premier Two Chippenham failed to get underway at Old Bristolians Westbury in what was an important relegation clash.

However, skipper Trevor Lloyd saw the abandonment as a blessing in disguise.

"At the end of the day we could have played a reduced over game and you always run the risk of losing.

"We have not gained any ground but we have not lost any either."

Chippenham play high-flying Frocester at home on Saturday while in Premier One Corsham host a derby clash against Bath.

Skipper Neil Shardlow said his boys would be up for it.

"We have done well against Bath in the three times we have played them at home so there's no reason we cannot do well again. We were disappointed not to play Frenchay on Saturday because they are bottom of the table and we though we had a good chance to pick up another win."