A much needed improved Fairford performance was still not quite enough to defeat the now run-away league leaders Apperley who are now certain for promotion. Town eventually losing an incident packed hard fought game by 32 runs. Town will look back on two separate incidents, both avoidable which had significant impact on the bearing on the outcome of the game. The first the decision by Apperley to use a wicket which had a ridiculously short 30 metre boundary, the other noted below.

Bowling first town again let the batters get of to a flying start racing past 50 after only 9 overs then 100 off only 20 as Leeke H worked the short boundary to hammer a quick time 54 before falling to Messer who produced a lively spell. Newport with 5-63 and Moreing a season best 4-50 in their contrasting styles then worked through the rest of the home batting, the only real resistance from Moore fetching both over the short boundary in a punishing 48. Again some excellent fielding Cooke and Bullock in particular, as Apperley where bowled out 235.

Town where to again lose an early wicket and then two more after brief cameos from Clarke and Brothers. As before Grey with Greener rebuilt then looked in little trouble as they began to up the coring rate. The pair had added to 84 at a run ball, due in the main to the hard hitting Greener racing past 50 with five sixes, before Grey fell for a fine 44. Greener followed run out for 64 due to an unsporting piece of fielding in which was technically a dead ball situation. Despite a request for clarification the umpires incorrectly called Greener out. Town 166-5 required a further 70 at 5 an over could not regain any composure and fell badly away and disappointingly where bowled out for 203 having lost 7 wickets for just 41 runs. Town now drop to third, although on paper have an easier "run-in" than both sides above them will do well to regain second, promotion now being virtually impossible.