CHIPPENHAM captain Lee Ward reckons that the title race is now a ‘four or five-horse race’ following another topsy-turvy weekend.

Ward’s men slipped up by losing to Gloucester City Winget at home but their bacon was saved as second-placed Rockhampton were bested by Warminster, leaving Chippenham just six points clear at the top, with 22 points separating the top five.

“We’ve missed a bit of an opportunity,” said Ward.

“Whenever Rockhampton have lost this season we haven’t won at the same time.

“The silver lining though is that we are still top of the league.

“What is has done is bunched the league up and rather than a two or three-horse race, it’s now a four or five-horse race.

“We could have been 20 points ahead had we won on Saturday but there’s three games left and if we win them, that should be enough to win the league.

“With the restructuring, we wanted to go up to the new tier two, which we should have secured now, and our aim now is to go up as champions.”

Scott Montgomery (85) and Richard Howell (64) fired visitors Gloucester to 283-3, with Tom Young taking 4-53.

In reply, Darryl Losper top-scored with 56 for Chippenham, with Arran Merryweather (37) and Billy Cookson (30) also chipping in, but the hosts fell behind the run-rate and were dismissed for 252 in the 47th over.

Elsewhere, Dom Hendricks and Dwaine Perry went run-crazy as Biddestone racked up their sixth win in a row in style at basement boys Apperley.

Hendricks hit a club-record unbeaten 153, whilst Dwaine Perry made 105 to fire Biddestone to 336-5 – their highest score since being promoted to the West of England Premier League in 2004.

Mark Williamson hit 78 in reply but Apperely finished on 258-9 Burbage & Easton Royal lost by 35 runs at Frenchay, with openers Jordan Khan and Mike Donaldson both hitting 116 as the home side posted a hearty 324-4.

Luke Woodcock (88) and David Cope (71) found their range but Burbage were skittled for 289 in their final over.