TROWBRIDGE skipper Mike Reynolds reckons his side got caught looking too far ahead as they were humbled in their opening WEPL Wiltshire clash at Purton last weekend.

The County Ground men, among the favourites for the title this summer, were handed a 164-run pasting after displaying what the captain described as a "lack of backbone'' in their batting reply.

Sam Bull's 53 and 44 from tail-ender Callum Wright helped Purton to 265 all out, Reynolds and Scott Mitchell taking three wickets apiece.

The skipper hit 37 in the reply, but only two other players reached double figures as Trowbridge were dismissed for 101 inside 21 overs, Wright and Adam Woolford taking three wickets apiece.

Reynolds heaped praise on Purton's performance - conceding his side had been taught a lesson - but is relieved that such a sorry showing occurred at the earliest point of the season, rather than a crucial encounter further down the line.

"I just think we put too much pressure on ourselves, on being the league favourites,'' he said.

"It was the first game and obviously you want to win but I think we put too much emphasis on that rather than the game itself.

"We bowled way too many extras - myself included and batting-wise we didn't take responsibility and threw our wickets away.

"If you want to win a league you have to be competitive so hopefully the boys have taken on board some things from that and will work on it in training.

"We had a good chat after the game about what went wrong and we've got Marlborough (at home this weekend) so hopefully we can get points on the board.

"We'll focus on that rather than things that are far ahead and nail down the basics.''

Warminster also found themselves on the wrong end of an opening-day result as WEPL new boys Royal Wootton Bassett clinched a five-wicket success at Sambourne Road.

After winning the toss, Beasant gambled by asking the hosts to bat first on what appeared to be a good batting track.

While Neilon Joseph made an early breakthrough with the new ball by bowling Tristian Lundqvist, who had failed to trouble the scorers, it was the Bassett spin trio of Asanka Vithange (1-18), Ian Lancaster (2-22) and Ben Batchelor (3-10) that did the damage as Warminster were bowled out for 168.

Bassett’s reply got off to a steady start with former Westbury wicketkeeper Jared McDonald and Sam Lawro putting on 36 for the opening wicket before the New Zealander edged Dominic Webb behind to David Bateman for 14 and Lawro fell soon after to leave the visitors 39-2.

Beasant (44) and Jack Twine (31) then put on 62 for the third wicket before they quickly followed each back to the pavilion with Bassett on 105-4.

Jack Paish was run out for four before Akash Sharma (25 not out) and Joseph (16*) saw the visitors home in the 46th over.