GOATACRE put distance between themselves and the Wadworth 6X West of England League Premier Two drop zone and dented their hosts' promotion prospects with an eight-run victory at Clevedon on Saturday.

On a day which saw much of the league action wiped out by the heavy storms that hit the region, Goatacre responded well to being put into bat at Dial Hill.

Despite losing opener Ed Wilkins to a duck, Jack Haines (54) and Ed Kilbee (49) put on 95 for the second wicket to get them on the front foot.

Later knocks from Kevin Iles (37) and Giorgio Rigali (35) helped nudged the score to 215-8, Jacob Lintott taking 3-39.

Lintott also played a key role in the reply, striking 78, but led by the bowling of skipper Bradley Dawson (3-32), plus Matt House, Craig Gibbens and Kevin Iles, who took two wickets each, Goatacre took wickets steadily.

Mike Hanley (33) and an unbeaten 28 from Will Plummer got Clevedon close but they were eventually dismissed for 207 in the 48th over.

In the only other league action, Burbage & Easton Royal took advantage of the weather-affected programme to go top of the table with an eight-wicket win over rivals Marlborough.

Having elected to bat, Marlborough were restricted to 141-8 in their 50 overs.

Burbage's Darran Freegard took 4-44 as opener Nick Crabbe scored 28 and Peter Day 22.

Burbage lost Sourish Mukherjee for just one but New Zealander Michael Papps (54*) and Daniel Wootton (50) both hit centuries to get their side home in the 29th over, George Fox taking both wickets.

Great Bedwyn's promotion hopes suffered a blow as Calne claimed their fifth win of the season.

Bedwyn skipper John Palmer shared stands of 49 and 68 with wicketkeeper Josh Quinn and Robert Palmer respectively before Ashley Perry struck 31 to help his side for 200-9.

Tom Richards took 3-29 and then scored 19 in the reply, but Sean Adams' unbeaten 86 in 95 balls helped his side overhaul their target in the 42nd over.

Devizes were comfortably beaten by 128 runs by hosts Purton in a rain-affected encounter.

Purton skipper Elliot Hill's 106 in 79 balls allowed his side to declare on 238-5after 36 overs.

Devizes' reply ended at 110 in the 30th over, Tom Andrew scoring 30.

Aakarshit Gomel took 5-12 in just 5.4 overs for the home side.

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