ROYAL Wootton Bassett re-established their Division One title credentials as they wrapped up an eight-wicket victory against Beckington on Saturday.

Bassett had lost their first top-flight match of the season the previous week against Nationwide House, but had few problems in returning to winning form as Akash Sharma (5-50) and Ajanka Vithanage (3-31) ripped through the Beckington order, dismissing them for 149.

Sam Lawro’s unbeaten 85 helped Bassett home, Sharma adding a knock of 31 not out.

Urchfont remained in touch with the leaders as they put struggling Swindon Civil Service to the sword by nine wickets.

Morlon Simon (4-26) and Toby Dorgan (4-36) did the bulk of the damage as Service were dismissed for 114, Jasper Dorgan’s unbeaten 57 and 44 from David Bromley wrapping up the victory.

Lacock are third after a superb effort from Steve Copland in their four-wicket triumph over Bradford on Avon.

Hosts Bradford were in deep trouble at 40-5 after 16 overs as Lacock’s Leigh Rogers (3-27) and Sam Thomson (2-21) caused havoc.

A 106-run stand between Tony Laws and Kit Chapman, the latter making 68 from just 48 balls including six fours and six sixes, dug them out.

Laws ended 56 not out and late hitting from Chris Hotchen (18) and Dean Bird (10) got Bradford to 190 all out as Copland took 4-36.

The reply was built around stalwart Copland. Wickets fell around him but he anchored the innings superbly to score 103 before being dismissed in the last over with Lacock still needing six for victory.

Laws bowled a good spell of 2-35 from 12 overs and Bird had one wicket before he was felled by a hard hit back at him and suffered a fractured thumb. Thomson hit a four and six to secure the win.

The pace of Peter Borton caused Beanacre & Melksham early problems against Hinton Charterhouse before a fourth-wicket partnership of 81 between Matt Hunt (62) and Ben Brown (31) helped them to 147-9.

The home side’s bowlers needed to build pressure early and Dean Wallington took three wickets.

Only Borton (43) showed any patience as Hinton were dismissed for 128.

Jonny Page hit an unbeaten 81 in Box’s 186 all out against Nationwide House, Joe Perkins taking 5-36.

Richard Foley took 4-11 in 5.3 overs to ensure House fell well short on 102 all out, despite 37 from Jon Clarke.

Division 2

FORMER South African first-class bowler Wes Hartslief (5-15) was the difference between the two sides as Avebury romped to a seven-wicket win over Swindon United Churches and took over at the top of the table.

Hartslief, who played first-class cricket as recently as December 2012 for South Western Districts, also helped himself to 35 not out as Avebury completed the chase in double quick time.

Wickets fell at regular intervals in the Churches innings, which was at 65-5 at one stage, Dean Tomlin’s 36 helping them to 124 all out Dominic Fry (26) and Hartslief remained composed in the reply to ensure Avebury got home.

Mike Evans struck 77 to set up Wroughton Wranglers’ three-wicket success over Keevil.

Matt Evans (65) had earlier helped Keevil to 199-9, but despite Evans 3-44 in the reply, Wroughton came out on top.

Christy Millar blasted 129 for Swindon A as they reached 264 all out against Spye Park, Wahab Khalid adding 41 as Jon Bathe took 4-57.

Mike Du Bourlay’s 81 anchored the Park reply, which ended on 199 as Richard Smye took 4-49.

Mudasser Rafiq scored 92 of Swindon NALGO’s 181 all out against Heytesbury & Sutton Veny.

Oliver Hares (60) and Graham Kitley (31) formed the bulk of the reply, but 3-39 from Zak Anwar secured a 10-run win for NALFO.

Division 3

BEEHIVE’S unbeaten run at the top of the table continued apace as they sauntered to a seven-wicket win over Biddestone 3rd.

Biddestone reached 141-9 in their innings, but Mike Spong struck an unbeaten 65 as Beehive chased down the target.

An opening partnership of 99 between Chris Grace (50) and Paul Lewis (42) helped Seagry to 153-7 and a three-wicket win over Wanborough (150-8), in which Nick Stacey had scored 60.

Wootton Bassett 2nd stayed on the trial of the leaders thanks to an eight-wicket success over Potterne 3rd.

Chasing 163 for victory, Mark Vinceent (58 not out) and Lewis Tyrie (38 not out) put on an unbeaten third-wicket stand of 104 to wrap up the points.

Division 4

WHITE Horse remain at the head of affairs after Tom Lentschner played a starring role in their 101-run victory over Beckington 2nd.

Lentschner struck 73 of his side’s 242-6, Nathan Sheffield adding 45, before Lentschner took 4-35 in 10 overs to help dismiss Beckington for 141.

Division 6

LACOCK 2nd were four-wicket winners over Warminster 3rd in their meeting, Warminster amassing 169 all out as Omar Mars scored 45.

Anthony Edwards took 6-43 and James Harding 2-58 before Harding struck 35 not out in the reply, Matt Cookson with 36 as Lacock reached 171-6.

Division 7

FOOTBALLERS Alan Griffin and Andy Sandell played a key role in Goatacre 4th’s six-wicket win over Bathford 2nd.

Bathford had made 222-6, with Sandell, released by League Two Newport County at the end of last season, taking 3-51 before he struck 87 in the reply, while former Chippenham Town striker Griffin smacked 133.

Leaders Highworth elected to bat first against Westbury 3rd and despite five players reaching scores in the 20s, they lost wickets at regular intervals, reaching 187 before being bowled out off the final ball of their allotted 45 overs.

Bowling honours for Westbury were claimed by Adam Osborne (5-44) and Grant Willis (3-59).

Westbury openers Ian Pothecary (55) and Phil Mead put on a fine 60-run opening partnership, helping them to 83-1 in the 25th over.

But the innings fell away with no other batsman making double figures and Westbury ended 58 runs short of their target as they were eventually bowled out for 129 in 37 overs.