Swindon suffer relegation
6:00am Wednesday 5th September 2012 in Latest Sport News By Andy Warren
SWINDON’S inability to bowl sides out is what ultimately cost them their place in the Glos/Wilts Division, according to captain Paul Paginton.
The County Ground club needed a win to stand any chance of staying up on the final day of the league season, but despite beating Stroud by 14 runs results elsewhere saw them finish in the relegation zone, two points from safety.
Swindon were left to rue what might have been as Chipping Sodbury, Painswick and Trowbridge picked up the points they needed to avoid the drop, but Paginton refused to feel sorry for himself and highlighted his side’s bowling as what cost them their place in the league.
“It was strange, because we played very well on the day to win the game but still ended up going down,” he said.
“In the end there were only two points between us and Trowbridge, but during the season there were at least four games we should have won but we didn’t.
“Those are the games which cost us, and even though we did all we could to beat Stroud the other clubs got the points they needed. We can moan forever about results not going our way, but it is our fault entirely.
“All our bowlers did a good job for us throughout the season but only managed to bowl two teams out, and we just didn’t get enough wickets in general.”
While everyone at the club were left devastated by relegation, Paginton insisted there were still some positives to take from the season.
“There are several good things that overall have been good this season, and young Jake Goodwin has come into the team and done very well all season.
“David Miles has been great too and he is only 18 years old, so things are looking good there and hopefully they can be part of the team here for many years to come.”
Although the victory was ultimately in vain, an innings of 95 not out from Paginton gave his side a chance of victory over Stroud.
He was backed up well by both Dean and Marc Williamson as the home side scored 241 from their overs, and Will Nichols stuck four times in the Stroud reply to end the season on a positive note.
