ROYAL Wootton Bassett failed to convert a winning position on Saturday’s trip to Corsham 2nd as their tough run in WEPL Wiltshire continued with a four-run defeat.

Darren Beasant’s side had suffered five losses in six games prior to this weekend’s contest, but looked well placed to claim a return to form when just 19 runs shy of their target of 176 with four wickets in hand.

However, 157-6 became 171 all out as Corsham’s Jack Humphreys (3-32) dismantled the Bassett tail.

Captain Beasant said: “We will look back and think it is a game we should have won.

“At one stage, we needed to get about 40 runs off 10 overs with five wickets in hand.

“In that situation, you have got to think of yourselves as favourites to get home – and nine times out of 10, you would.

“We are in a tough spell at the moment, and knew the second half of the season was going to a difficult because of the amount of players that we were going to be without.

“We don’t have a very experienced side at the moment. We have got a lot of players who haven’t played a lot of first-team cricket.

“You don’t need to try to hit every ball to the boundary when you only need four an over, so a few more players with that little bit of knowhow probably would have made the difference.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have that at the moment.”

Asanka Vithanage took four wickets for Bassett and Sam Lawro claimed three as they restricted Corsham to 175 all out, with Mark Hick top-scoring on 56.

Jack Twine then led the visitors’ reply with 39, but Bassett’s run chase ultimately came up short.

Elsewhere, Marshfield further stalled Warminster’s march to the title as they inflicted a three-wicket defeat on the leaders.

Thomas Lamb’s three wickets helped limit Warminster to 218-7 off 50 overs, with Rory Cullinan (68) top score.

Captain James Williams then hit 82 to guide Marshfield to a winning 219-7 with 16 balls to spare, despite Bradley Small’s 3-34.

That result allowed Chippenham to climb within seven points of the summit after a landslide 183-run win at Purton.

Adeesha Nanayakkara hit 116 to help Chippenham post 263-8 as Purton’s Neil Little took 4-33.

Bowlers Lee Ward (5-33) and Philip Adams (3-22) then blew apart the home side’s reply as they were skittled for 80 inside 24 overs.

Four wickets from Elliott Bodman set Calne up for an eight-wicket win at home to Marlborough.

Marlborough were dismissed for 110 inside 32 overs, with 42 of those coming from Paul Smith, and the hosts needed less than 25 overs to chase the target.

Finally, Devizes fell to a crushing 151-run defeat at Swindon.

David Bromley took three wickets but Swindon still ran up a score of 270-8, with Liam Tucker (65), Adam Tucker (54 not out) and Sean Parker (49) leading the way.

Adam Tucker then took seven wickets as the Devizes reply collapsed to 119 all out.