FOR the second year in a row international rounders came to Taunton.

Three teams selected from the Somerset Activity and Sport Partnership Rounders League took on the might of the full England team, the England Under 19s and Under 16s on Taunton Vale cricket pitch.

Taunton Allstars and Taunton Superstars were teams selected from the best women in the league.

And the Mixed Malvern Terrace team earned the right to represent themselves having won the league for the past two seasons.

The first round of games proved to be a steep learning curve as both the Taunton teams suffered heavy but not unexpected defeats at the hands of their international rivals.

The second round however proved much more fruitful and gave the large crowd plenty to cheer as the Taunton Allstars dismissed the entire full England Team in just 27 balls - not quite enough to avoid defeat, but it gave their illustrious counterparts a scare.

Malvern Terrace however went one better when a brilliant fielding display restricted the England Under 19s to seven rounders and then knocked off the total with 10 balls to spare to record a fantastic victory.

The England teams rallied a little for the final round of matches but this was matched by the Taunton teams raising their games to push them all the way, with both the Allstars and Superstars recording their highest scores of the day.

The day ended with England as expected, winning the series 8-1 but the final score does not tell the whole story as all the players can hold their heads high having done SASP, the Taunton Rounders league and themselves proud.

Taunton Allstars: Clare Adam (capt), Lucy Mowlam, Ruth Thomson, Chrissi Curno (all Batty Birds), Laura Ruchlewski (One Hit Wonder) Vicky Cornish (Marty's Mutants), Jill Jenkinson (Allrounders), Denise Evely (Miss it & Run), Jennifer McGrail (No Stars).

Taunton Superstars: Jo Avisson (capt), Kelly WInter (both Allrounders), Lauren Lofkin (Umpires), Josie Cross, Callie Rice ( Batty Birds), Georgina Crossman (North Devon), Lucy Ewers, Nat Harrow (Base Invaders), Sarah Knight (One Hit Wonder).

Malvern Terrace: Annouska Evans (capt), Laura Dyke, Jess Hayman, Hannah Miller, Chris Wood, Gareth Evans, James Denslow, Dan Low, Paul Dimond, Alex Milton.