TOM Wallbridge would love to have seen Burbage & Easton Royal sitting pretty with a comfortable cushion at the top of the Wiltshire Division but says that his side’s promotion challenge is still alive and kicking, despite their loss to title rivals Swindon.

A 125-run defeat last weekend saw Burbage slip back down to second-place but, with just a single point separating the top two, Wallbridge says that his side are ready to go all out in their final three games of the season.

“At the end of the day, we were outplayed by Swindon,” said the Burbage skipper.

“Our bowling is usually really good but we just let them score too many runs – it got to a stage where we needed ten an over, so we had to just concentrate on getting as many points as we could out of the game.

“There’s only one point in it and you can get as many as 24 out of a game but all three that we’ve got left are going to be tough.

“If we win them all, then we’ll have done very well.”

Swindon batted first after winning the toss, with Ardil Domingo putting the hosts in control with his hefty knock of 145.

Wallbridge and Michael Papps both took two wickets apiece but they failed to stem the tide, with Swindon’s Paul Paginton weighing in with 75 as his side posted a formidable 312-5.

Burbage’s David Cope stuck around to hit an unbeaten 94 but after star batsman Papps went for just 18, it was damage control for Wallbridge’s men, who eventually posted 187-5. Meanwhile, third-placed Marlborough suffered a 62-run defeat at home to Marshfield.

Rupert Crockett his 62 as Marshfield posted 243-9 before the visitors were skittled for 181, with the hosts’ Jeremy Bond taking 3-25.

Devizes crusied to an eight-wicket win at Winsley.

Tim Saye (65*) and Tom Grant (56*) eased Joe Wookey’s side home to 138-2 after skittling the home side for just 137.

John Palmer took five wickets as Great Bedwyn won at Nationwide House.

The hosts, who batted first, were all out for 165 midway through the 41st over before Ashley Perry (44*) helped Bedwyn reach 168-6 in just over 44 overs.

Calne slipped to a five-wicket defeat at the hands of Trowbridge.

Dan Knight’s side were skittled for 139 in 47 overs, with the visitors’ George Reed taking six wickets.

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