West of England Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset
Taunton Deane 1st XI 256-9 beat Lansdown 1st XI 196 by 60 runs

A SCINTILLATING 149 from Deane opener Robert Woodman earned 20 vital points at Lansdown on Saturday.

Woodman hit 17 fours and five 6s as he dominated the early bowling of fellow league strugglers Lansdown.

And it proved just as well, as Harry Thomas (25) and Calvin Harrison (28) were the only others to stick around.

The introduction of Jordan Price precipitated something of a collapse, as his eight overs yielded 5-46.

Woodman always kept the scoreboard ticking over, however, and he was last out to Price’s final ball of the day.

As a result, the Deane, looking for a 300-plus total, had to settle for 256-9.

When Lansdown replied, Deane’s attack was quick to assert its authority – Rob Pryke bowled Josh Smith on 14, and Tom Walsh had Jordan Smith caught by Lorenzo Machado in the next over.

Kofi James (31) settled the innings but Walsh trapped the dangerous Harry Veale lbw for nine.

J. Addey joined James and, together, they moved the score on to 74-4.
Lansdown skipper Price was run out by the ever-alert Calvin Harrison, and Addey fell for 35.

Jack Betenson and Dan Veal staged another recovery but Lansdown were running out of overs.

Betenson (47) was bowled by Shohel Rana (3-38 off 10), who mopped up the tail with Walsh (3-39 off eight) to give Deane a relatively comfortable victory.

The win pushed Deane up to fourth-from-bottom in a very competitive bottom half of the table.

On Saturday, the Deane travel to fellow strugglers Keynsham (12.30pm).

WEPL Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset
Bishopston 1st XI 104-7 beat Taunton 1st XI 102 by 3 wkts

TAUNTON slipped further into relegation trouble after a poor batting performance at Bishopston on Saturday.

Having elected to bat, Taunton’s openers moved onto 17 before a mix-up between Charles Clist and skipper Ben Phillips saw the former run out.

The very next ball, Dan Quick became the first of Ryan Adams’ two victims.

Jack Cooper came and went, and Phillips was Adams’ second victim for 28.

Will Abell took up the mantle but wickets clattered around him as Lawrence Cook wreaked havoc.

When Abell became the first of Jacob Duffy’s three victims, out for 45 at 102-7, that was it – the last three wickets falling without a run being scored.

Duffy ended with 3-18 off seven, and Cook claimed 3-10 off six.

To their credit, Taunton’s attack tore into Bishopston, with Joe Gore and William Easterfield troubling the hosts.

Gore dismissed opener Prevan Rajh and David O’Brien, and Bishopston were in real bother at 58-6, as Blake Coburn also waded in with two wickets.

Jamie Tapper stood firm though, moving to 40 before being stumped by Dan Quick off the bowling of Justin Burke.

Just when it looked like a famous victory might be in sight, Lawrence Cook (13no) and Jacob Duffy (15no) came together to save the day for the home side.

As it was, Bishopston had three wickets in hand, with Blake Coburn closing on 2-33 off 10 overs and Gore 3-31 off 7.3.

On Saturday, Taunton, sitting third-from-bottom, face a crucial test when they travel to Lansdown (12.30pm), who are 25 points behind them.

WEPL Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset
Glastonbury 1st XI 227 beat Taunton St Andrew’s 1st XI 205 by 22 runs

A LATE collapse thwarted leaders Saints against third-placed Glastonbury last Saturday.

Saints went into the match with a 30-point cushion at the top, but their brittle middle order failed in their run chase.

When Glastonbury batted first, Lloyd Alley and Deven Bell looked to have sent them on the way to a low score.

But the lower order came good, with the bottom four all making 20 and over.

At 108-7 Glastonbury were on the way to a 150 total, but Sam Morris (27) and Will Mason (28) took the score on, and No 10 Tim Spotswood (22) and No 11 Dan Williams (25no) hung around to see the overs out and the score onto 227.

It was not a mountain to climb, though, and all looked swell at 90-0 as Eddie Byrom (39) and James Regan (82) set out after the total.

Victory even looked likely at 144-4, but Ali Easton (3-26), Tom Brock (2-24) and Will Jenkins (2-32) turned things around and the Saints plunged to 205 all out.

Deven Bell was left stranded on 19 as the last wicket fell and the Saints were still 22 runs short.

On Saturday, Taunton St Andrew’s will be hoping to put that behind them when they entertain bottom club Claverham (12.30pm start).