WOOTTON Bassett captain Darren Beasant was pleased that his side came through their Division One opener with a win, but was left to rue dropped points.

Bassett finished second in the league last term - 27 points adrift of champions Malmesbury.

But the Rylands Way side are determined to claim as many of the bonus points on offer as they possibly can this term.

However, some rash shots and poor decisions meant that Bassett could only claim a five-wicket win over newly promoted Beckington.

“Five wickets was still pretty emphatic, but to be honest it should have been eight or nine,” Beasant said. “We lost a couple of wickets which we shouldn’t have done - I stupidly got myself out.

“We talked before the game about taking maximum points from every game, even if we lose, so while it was good to take 21 points it should have been 22 or 23.”

Beckington managed to post 221-8 from their 45 overs, with new signing Asanka Vithanage the pick of the Bassett attack, claiming 3-32.

Then youngster Jack Twine opened the batting for the first time with Sam Lawro as they made a good start to the reply.

While Twine was dismissed just shy of his half-century, Lawro was back in the pavilion four short of his century.

“It was a fine innings from Sam,” Beasant added. “He was fantastic and deserved a century, but Beckington are a decent side and I think that they will do well this season.”

Dominic O’Neill struck a blistering 46-ball unbeaten 84 to lead Nationwide House to a seven-wicket success at Box on their return to the Wiltshire League following their relegation from the West of England Premier League last term.

Nationwide, having won the toss and elected to field, restricted their hosts to 151-9, with Joe Perkins picking up 3-23 from 10 overs, while Box wicketkeeper Johnny Page top scored with 51.

However, Nationwide’s reply got off to a shaky start as they slumped to 32-3 - Roger Pettifer, Nick Clarke and skipper Jonathon Clarke all scoring 11 - before O’Neill, who struck seven fours and seven sixes in his innings, and wicketkeeper Luke Bradley (22 not out) took charge and saw the visitors home with more than 19 overs to spare.

Swindon Civil Service fell to an 84-run defeat to Urchfont.

The visitors posted 271-6 in their 45 overs, but they then restricted Civil Service to 187-5 despite Painter’s unbeaten 64 and Batchelor’s 53.

Hinton Charterhouse welcomed the new season in with an emphatic 154-run win over a depleted Beanacre and Melksham.

Put in to bat, Hinton advanced to 118-0 thanks to Richard Newport, who was bowled by Steve Rendell for 50, and Chris Antrobus, who went to make a cultured 97 before being dismissed by seamer Ben Brown - who finished with figures of 4-67.

However, it was John Newport with a blistering 50-ball 90, which included five sixes, who propelled the hosts to an imposing 277-7.

The Beanacre reply stalled in the face of medium pacers Liam Taylor (1-21) and James Jacob, the latter delivering 12 immaculate overs, taking 2-18.

The way was open for spinners Mike Abington (4-26) and Dave Bowden (3-25) to finish off the job - Brown top scoring for Beanacre with 35 as they were dismissed for 123.

Lacock were eight-wicket winners over Bradford on Avon in their opener.

Bradford reached 130-8 off their 45 overs, Matthew Harrington top scoring with 30 and Paul Vooght adding 24 not out and Maurice Beale 24 as Jamie Walker and Adam Mitchell took three wickets each.

Mitchell formed the cornerstone of Lacock’s reply, hitting 74, while there were unbeaten knocks of 24 and 23 respectively from Chay Forester and Phil Steans as Lacock got home with ease. Harrington took 2-14.

Division 2

A DOGGED 23 from 89 balls by opener Keith Coatsworth held the Swindon United Churches innings together against Avebury’s South African overseas signing, Wessel Hartleef, who claimed 2-5 in his opening 10-over spell.

A partnership of 55 for the sixth wicket between Matt Shadwick and Richard Martin rallied the cause.

Captain Martin saw out the innings with an unbeaten 40 as Churches closed on 150-9.

In the field Churches enjoyed mixed fortunes as Chris Spackman worked up real pace with the new ball but had two early catches dropped.

Chasing 151, Avebury reached 101 for the loss of only one wicket by the 22nd over but accurate spells from Shadwick and Martin regularly helped Churches back into the game and then Chris Gilchrist handed them the unlikely four-run win.

Collingbourne’s season did not get off to a great start as only 21 players could be found to represent their two teams.

Winning the toss, Collingbourne’s first team elected to field first on a dry wicket, mainly because of player commitments.

Bear Flat took 29 from the first four overs before Jon Candler made the breakthrough.

That was the only bit of joy Collingbourne had for the next 28 overs as Bear Flat captain Mark Gunning (121) and number three Bense (98) shared a 197-run partnership, taking Bear Flat to 222 from 32 overs.

Gunning was run out by Craig Watts with a direct throw from the boundary and Collingbourne started taking wickets as the returning Candler took two more, one caught by Watts, either side of a Ben Nichols run out.

Whilst this was going on Bear Flat continued to score runs, especially Bense who was finally accounted for by the John Aitken.

Collingbourne finished with a flourish as captain Owen Sheppard took three wickets in one over but Bear Flat closed on 328-9 - the first time in recorded history that more than 300 runs has been scored against a Collingbourne side at home.

In response, Sheppard scored 42 and Watts 32 but Collingbourne were reeling as they lost four wickets for 11 runs.

Immie Habdad hit a 26-ball unbeaten 28 to help Collingbourne to 131 all out.

Division 6

MARSHFIELD thirds began their campaign with a trip to newcomers Urchfont 2nd and skipper Mark Dixon opted to take the new ball after winning the toss.

However, Urchfont put on 73 for the first wicket as they pounced on any loose deliveries from Dixon and Andrew Pierce.

Chris Middup and man-of-the-match Derek Watkins were brought into the attack and kept the hosts at around three an over.

Urchfont attempted to increase the rate but were left reeling following a simple run out before Watkins picked up two quick wickets as the hosts closed on 151-7.

Richard Guy and Mike Threadgill put on 73 for the opening wicket in reply before the former was run out by Peter Strong.

Threadgill retired unbeaten on 19, before Marshfield were reduced to 103-3. Watkins (23no) and Middup (11no) saw the visitors home.