GREAT Bedwyn captain Robert Palmer is hoping that his troops will club together to help stave off the threat of relegation from the Wiltshire Division.

After being decimated by nine wickets at local rivals Marlborough last weekend, Bedwyn are just three points ahead of the drop zone and Palmer is eyeing a late charge to safeguard his team’s status in the West of England Premier League.

“I wouldn’t play for this club if I didn’t think we were a better side than where we are in the table,” said the Bedwyn skipper.

“We’ve got three games left and I think we need to get a win in one of those games to make sure we don’t end up in the bottom two.

“We’ve struggled for consistency in team selection all season. We’ve missed key players a lot and if you look at teams like Trowbridge, Marlborough and Westbury, they’ve had pretty much the same XI all season.

“I didn’t expect us to be in this position but what’s happened before in the season doesn’t matter now – it’s all about the last three games.”

Josh Quinn (31) top-scored for Bedwyn as they were skittled for 177 in the penultimate over after choosing to bat first, Brad Frost taking 3-26.

Arran Dickinson’s side then claimed the derby spoils in emphatic fashion, the captain hitting an unbeaten 80 whilst Mark Wingfield-Digby made 64 not out as Marlborough cruised to 178-1 in the 36th over.

Elsewhere, Calne handed their survival hopes a timely boost by securing a two-wicket victory at Devizes.

The home side opted to bat first after winning the toss but were immediately put under the cosh, with their first two wickets falling for 23 runs.

Tom Andrew hit 53 whilst skipper Tom Grant made 46 but Calne’s Sean Adams took 3-25 as Devizes were skittled for 185 with just under five overs to spare.

Stuart Windsor drove the visitors towards their target with an unbeaten knock of 79 James Watson also chipped in with 37 and despite Joe Wookey taking four wickets, Calne got to 186-8 in the 45th over.

Fourth-placed Marshfield secured their fourth win in five games by beating Winsley by 125 runs.

Jeremy Bond (56), captain James Williams (54) and Alastair Christie (45) helped the home side post 293-6 before Cameron Walker (32) helped skittle Winsley for 168 in the 44th over, Nick Gerrish hitting 61. Malmesbury handed their survival hopes a boost with a four-wicket win at Purton.

The home side batted first and posted 248-9, with Antony Brown taking 4-33 but Purton’s bowlers bowled 37 extras to add to James Gillespie’s 52 and Theo Blundell’s unbeaten 40 as Malmesbury reached 252-6 with just under two overs to spare.