SWINDON Civil Service have had a player banned for 18 league matches after he allegedly assaulted a player from Beanacre and Melksham.

The Division One match, which was abandoned after the altercation on June 20, saw a 41-year-old man from the Swindon Civil Service team arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm.

The Wiltshire League have now concluded their investigations into the incident and have banned the Civil Service player for 18 matches, four of which have been suspended, effectively banning the player from all Saturday league cricket which is played under the jurisdiction of the ECB until June next year after finding him guilty of a level four offence.

The Beanacre player involved in the fracas has also had a ban imposed for his part in the build-up to the incident and has been suspended for four games after being found guilty of a level two offence, the League’s Disciplinary Panel agreeing to treat the offence as an isolated incident.

Meanwhile, the league have also deducted both teams 10 points after it was deemed that their actions effectively forfeited the fixture.

Division 1

WOOTTON Bassett edged to a one-wicket success over Urchfont in a low-scoring match at Rylands Way.

The visitors were dismissed for 143, with Morlon Samuel top scoring with 54.

However, Bassett skipper Darren Beasant, who also scored 54, led the hosts' successful reply despite Urchfont’s Matt Brookes claiming 5-39.

Nationwide House bounced back from their 84-run loss to Box to defeat basement side Civil Service by seven runs.

Jon Clarke top scored for Nationwide with 40 as they closed on 170-8, while the hosts were dismissed off the penultimate ball for 163.

A depleted Beanacre were no match for Lacock as they ran out 117-run winners.

Asked to bat, Steve Copland and Adam Mitchell (27) set about any loose bowling and they had reached 37 when the latter was caught behind off the bowling of Ben Brown (2-22).

Phil Steans (30) joined Copland and they added 97 for the second wicket before the new man was dismissed by Chris Singh (4-51).

As wickets fell around him, Copland went on to hit 121 as Lacock were eventually dismissed for 244.

Beanacre, in reply, quickly saw openers Steve Rendell and Ed Skippings back in the hutch with only seven runs on the board.

Matt Hunt and Brown started to rebuild and their partnership had reached 56 when the latter was out for 39.

Lacock finished Beanacre off in the 38th over, removing the visitors for 127 with Jamie Walker taking 5-21.

Division 2

SWINDON United Churches returned to winning ways in emphatic style against Spye Park, triumphing by 210 runs.

After winning the toss and batting first, six Churches batsmen passed the 20-run mark as they racked up an imposing 262-7 from 45 overs.

Spye Park’s left-arm spinner John Beale (3-59) caused problems for the hosts, however, Jimmy Mann (62) and Chris Gilchrist (35) went on the counter attack and Churches were soon back into a position of strength at 84-3 from 18 overs.

Matt Runkel (29) anchored the innings once Mann and Gilchrist had departed and this allowed Dean Tomlin (42), Martin Garstang (37*) and Ravi Dhayalan (23*) to press on the accelerator late in the innings.

Facing a stiff chase, Spye Park set about their work in careful fashion, with opening bowlers Richard Martin (3-21) and Chris Spackman attacking with menace to reduce the visitors to 34-4 from the opening 11 overs.

The introduction of Tomlin (4-9) down the hill ripped through the Spye Park middle order, as the Churches slip cordon clung on to every chance offered.

Leg-spinner Dhayalan mopped up the final two wickets as Spye Park were bowled out for 52 from 18 overs.

Division 3

BEEHIVE returned home from All Cannings with a 37-run success to strengthen their hold at the top of the table.

After being put into bat by the hosts, Beehive saw skipper Neil Harber dismissed for 14. However, Mike Reeves (43) and Mike Spong (47) put on 91 for the second wicket before they fell in quick succession.

At 138-3 after 33 overs, the leaders were keen to surpass the 200-run mark, however, several quick wickets meant that Beehive closed on 198-8.

In reply, Beehive strike bowlers, Gary Collins (1-32) and Jayke Hudd (1-20), restricted All Cannings to 38-2 after 11 overs.

Gareth Lapham (5-50) claimed the first of his five wickets after only three balls to remove All Cannings skipper Steve Parker and he then claimed another with the following ball.

Pete Andrews also chipped in with 3-33 as All Cannings were dismissed for 161.

Division 6

BEEHIVE 2nd claimed a six-wicket success against their Box counterparts to maintain their place at the top of the table.

After winning the toss and electing to field, Beehive saw James Dennison (3-35) strike in his third over before claiming a wicket in each of his following two overs.

Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals as Box went from 75-5 to 126 all out.

In reply, Beehive required Ady Day (33) and skipper Phil Stockley (29*) to see them home in the 41st over after they had previously slumped to 82-6.

Division 7

A DEPLETED Westbury thirds side claimed a four-wicket success at Chippenham fourths.

Having won the toss, the nine men of Westbury put their hosts into bat with Nick Heron, of the Under 15s side, claiming 7-24 from his nine overs as Chippenham were dismissed for 119.

In reply, Westbury made a solid start through openers Jason Steele (24) and Pete Seviour (18) but found themselves wobbling at 66-4 in the 25th over, before 25 from Phil Osborne steadied the ship to see them to their target of 120 for the loss of six wickets.