SWINDON vice-captain Jon Sore admits that his side are looking over their shoulders after their agonising defeat to second-from-bottom Tewkesbury last weekend.

Despite breaking the 270-run barrier, Sore’s side were unable to sufficiently put the brakes on their Gloucestershire opponents at the County Ground and now sit just 32 points ahead of Tewkesbury in the Glos/Wilts Division with three games of the season to go.

Sore reckons that his team’s performance form Saturday can be replicated, a victory, rather than defeat, will be forthcoming next time around.

“It was a tough defeat to take, especially after the results we’ve had recently,” said Sore, whose team have lost their last three on the spin.

“If Tewkesbury carry on winning, then we could be in trouble, which is something we obviously don’t want to happen, so if we could get ourselves another win, that would hopefully be enough to keep us safe.

“We batted really well. Paul (Paginton) got his 90 and Dean Williamson also got 50 as well. 270 was our highest score of the season.

“But fair play to Tewkesbury because they came in with a game plan and did enough to win the game.

“There are a lot of positives to take and on another day, we wouldn’t have lost the game with a performance like that.”

Swindon elected to bat first after winning the toss and after losing their first three wickets for 40 runs, Paul Paginton stepped up and plundered a fine 92.

Dean Williamson (60) and Alex Kill (53) also weighed in as the home side posted 273-7.

But Freddie Humphries spearheaded the Tewkesbury run-chase with 93, with Jack Brixey hitting 73, as the visitors reached 274-7, Williamson taking 3-26.

Elsewhere, Purton’s two-match winning streak in the Wiltshire Division was brought to a halt as they were beaten at home by Malmesbury.

Aaron Lee’s side batted first after winning the toss, with Tom Bowler (54), Lachlan Beggs (51) and Neil Little (40) all finding their range as they posted 248-9.

But 37 extras bowled by the home side added to James Gillespie’s 52 and Theo Blundell’s unbeaten 40, as Malmesbury reached 252-6 with just under two overs to spare.