NATIONWIDE House slipped to their second narrow defeat in as many weeks in WEPL Wiltshire Division, as they lost by nine runs to Burbage & Easton Royal.

House restricted their big-scoring guests to 220-8 from their 50 overs, having inserted the visitors into bat after winning the toss, as Joe Perkins claimed four wickets including former New Zealand international Michael Papps for just 13.

David Cope top scored with 47 for the away side, before he was caught by Roger Pettifer off the bowling of Perkins, while Haydon Amor added 43, including a six, from 52 balls.

Needing four-and-a-half runs an over to claim a vital win, Nationwide made a solid enough start despite the cheap dismissals of Jon Clarke for 11 and Mick Harris for three.

A stand of 76 for the fourth wicket between Nick Clarke and Luke Bradley-Leach appeared to have given House the platform to push on for victory but, after Bradley-Leach was stumped by Sourish Mukherjee off Darran Freegard for 44, the wickets started to tumble.

Clarke was the seventh man out, having racked up 79 from 129 balls including one six, but the bottom five batsmen only contributed 21 runs between them as Burbage skittled Nationwide out for 211. Papps finished with figures of 4-33 in 10 overs.