ROYAL Wootton Bassett’s title bid rumbles on after they racked up a third win on the spin to remain in control of Division One.

Darren Beasant’s men stretched their lead at the top to 21 points on Saturday following a comfortable 160-run success at Lacock.

After being put in to bat first, Beasant led the way for his team with a knock of 80, whilst Jack Twine’s 74 and Jack Paish’s 70 off 31 balls inspired Bassett to 312-6.

Adam Mitchell top-scored for Lacock with just 31 as Bassett’s Askah Sharma (5-19) filled his boots, with the hosts dismissed for 152 late in the 34th over.

Division Two

SWINDON United Churches fell to five-wicket defeat to Bradford on Avon.

Captain Richard Martin lost the toss and Churches were asked to bat first at Sevenhampton, and after Duncan Mead (17) and Matt Runkel (32) had got the hosts off to a solid start, the introduction of Bradford on Avon’s Paul Vooght (4-27) to the bowling attack pegged the home side back.

Daniel Hunt (41) and Liam Brooks (10) steadied the ship with a partnership of 36 before opening bowler Kit Chapman was able to slow the home side’s scoring rate as they posted a final total of 172-8.

The successful Bradford run-chase was built upon steady innings from their top-order batsmen, with Ian Pinchin (30) and Mo Beale (24) finding their range before number three Vooght anchored the rest of the chase with 57 from 75 balls.

A three-wicket flurry from Churches’ Hunt, which saw Vooght dismissed, briefly threatened Bradford but the visitors reached 176-5 late in the 42nd over.

Churches were also in action on Sunday but were soundly beaten by 143 runs at Avebury, who ascended to the top of the Division Two table.

The hosts’ Dominic Fry (67) and John Rheinberg (56) punished Churches’ wayward bowling to romp to 144-1 and despite wicketkeeper Martin Garstang taking four catches, Avebury posted 219-7.

Churches didn’t fare much better with the bat, with Matt Shadwick and Liam Brooks’ partnership of 38 as good as it got for Martin’s men, who suffered a heavy batting collapse.

Rama Adi (3-0) was chief destroyer as Avebury dismissed Churches for just 76 runs in little more than 27 overs.

A day earlier, new league leaders Avebury also claimed victory at Biddestone 2nd.

Batting first, they reached 268-6 thanks to the prowess of Andy Schofield (95), Fry (57) and Greg Dix (45) and although Michael Comport hit 85 in reply for the hosts, they were bowled out for 222 early in the 39th over as Avebury took the win.

Division Three

NICK Mooney took six wickets, including a hat-trick, as Potterne 3rd beat Heytesbury & Sutton Veny by 65 runs, whilst Wroughton Wranglers cruised to a four-wicket success at Royal Wootton Bassett seconds.

Division Four

BASEMENT boys Corsham 3rd claimed a vital victory over fellow relegation battlers Buscot Park.

After claiming only their second win of the season, Corsham are now just four points adrift of ninth-placed Park.

With Corsham batting first, a 149-run fourth-wicket partnership between Rob Shillaker (89) and Jack Humphreys (53) inspired them to 248-7, although Park’s Paul Farmer took 4-47.

In reply, Andy Morbey (66) and Liam Farmer (50) put on 124 for Park’s second wicket but Josh Stanley’s 3-22 in nine overs helped dismiss the visitors for 214 early in the 43rd over.

Division Five

CHIPPENHAM 3rd’s title hopes suffered a major blow as they were put to the sword by in-form rivals Combe Down.

Chippenham remain top of the table but their Bath-based challengers are breathing down their necks more heavily than ever after cutting the gap to just four points with their fifth victory on the trot.

Asked to bat first, Chippenham reached 79-2 after 22 overs but despite Adrian Hollingdrake and Steve Richardson both reaching 31, Ian Bleakley (4-19) turned the screw as the visitors were all out for 156 midway through the final over of their innings.

In reply, Tom Hulbert (43) scored the lion’s share of a solid 66-run opening partnership for Combe Down, whilst Andy Hulbert (57 not out) and Simon Elliman (45 not out) also got in on the act as the hosts cruised to 160-1 in the 32nd over.

Elsewhere, Biddestone 3rd thumped Goatacre 3rd by eight wickets, with the latter batting first and reaching 199 before they were skittled, with Adam Iles top-scoring with an unbeaten 68.

However, Harry Entwhistle hit an unbeaten 86 for Biddestone, supported by Harry Roberts (56) to blast his team to 201-2 with almost four wickets to spare.

Division Six

LEADERS Burbage & Easton Royal 3rd were made to sweat by Hinton Charterhouse 2nd.

Having already posted 305-4 thanks to Russ Buck (75) and Don Lohrentz (72 not out), Ev Griffith (81 not out), Bill White (78) and Hugh Brooker (73) made sure that Burbage were made to sweat, with the visitors falling just seven runs short on 298-6.

Division Seven

SECOND-PLACED Devizes 2nd earned a crucial 51-run victory over leaders Burbage & Easton Royal 2nd to cut the gap at the top of the table to 10 points.

Division Eight

LACOCK 2nd moved up to second in the table following their three-wicket success at Trowbridge A.

Warminster 3rd, who began the day in second, fell to a 196-run loss at Cherhill, while leaders Highworth were not in action.

Division Nine

CHIPPENHAM 4th still have a 47-point lead at the head of the table despite second-placed Wanborough 2nd beating Winsley 3rd by 27 runs, with the league leaders not in action.