TROWBRIDGE skipper Mike Reynolds believes Saturday’s WEPL Wiltshire title-clinching triumph over nearest rivals Marshfield once again underlined the qualities that have propelled his side to league success.

The County Ground men ensured the silverware was theirs with a week of the season to spare as they defeated the second-placed side by 19 runs.

Put into bat by their visitors, Trowbridge overcame a batting collapse after a strong start to their innings before their bowlers stepped up to the plate to ensure Marshfield were unable to chase down what had seemed a getable 173 for victory.

Billy Cookson (45) and Tom Weaver (35) put on 68 for the opening wicket but the bowling of Thomas Lamb (3-44) and Matt Cox (3-40) curtailed the hosts’ progress as they slipped to 121-6.

Reynolds (30) then shared a stand of 33 with Scott Mitchell (16) to nudge Trowbridge’s total beyond 150 before becoming one of four victims for Alastair Christie, who took 4-12 from just 17 balls.

Marshfield seemed to be steaming along nicely with a second-wicket stand of 62 between Tom Clist (30) and Suffan Hussain (54) but their last seven wickets went for just 53 runs as the home side’s attack took hold.

Matthew Hopkins took 5-25 from his 10 overs, Brad Angell taking 2-12 as they were all out for 153 in the 39th over.

“After 15 overs I thought we were looking on for something around 300,’’ said Reynolds, of his side’s batting.

“But Marshfield bowled well. We muscled it up to the 170 mark and we’d always back ourselves to bowl any team out.

“Even when they got a good start at 80 or so for one wicket we thought that they were in the same position as we had been and we stuck to our guns and the wickets came in clusters.’’ Trowbridge’s opponents on the final day next Saturday will be Warminster, who still retain hopes of a top-three finish after ending a run of three successive defeats by downing relegation-haunted Great Bedwyn.

The visiting bowlers did the damage as Bedwyn, having elected to bat, were reduced to 29-5 as Rory Cullinan (3-20) and Alex Adlam (3-31) wreaked havoc.

Skipper Max Andrew (30) and Alistair Tuttle (31) helped the home side over the 100 mark, but they were all out for 120 in the 35th over.

Visiting skipper Peter Hickerton, with 30, and a unbeaten 24 from Cullinan propelled Warminster towards their target, which they reached in the 31st over.