WEPL Somerset Division
Staplegrove 59-0 beat Wellington 56 by 10 wkts

A BAD day at the office saw Wellington suffer a comprehensive defeat against fellow strugglers Staplegrove, writes Alex Sparks.

Hosts Wellington won the toss and chose to bat first. 

This was about as good as it got for Wellington, though, as Ian Masters and Ryan Cleverly ripped the heart out of the top order. 

Hitting consistent line and lengths they seamed the ball around to leave Wellington in tatters at 20-6 – only Alex Sparks (4) and Ben Evett (6) managing to score more than one run.

Thom Trott (13) and Neil Hendy (14no) showed some resistance, but when Grove skipper Ian Bishop bought himself on, he took three wickets – William Parkman claiming the other – as Wellington were skittled for just 56.

Masters took 3-6 off 10 overs, five of which were maidens, Bishop chipped in with 3-7 off five and Cleverly claimed 3-29 from 10 as the Grove bowlers had a field day.

Come the reply, Tom Pantling (22no) and Jake Pantling (30no) ensured there would be no dramas, as they eased Staplegrove to a 10-wicket win and boosted their chances of beating the drop.

Their 22 points propel them up to fifth place in a tightly contested bottom half of the division, while Wellington (0 points) are ninth, six points ahead of bottom side Temple Cloud, after their eighth defeat in 11 league matches this season.

Wellington could not have asked for a much harder destination to try and bounce back as they travel to second-placed North Perrott this coming Saturday, while Staplegrove are also in for a testing afternoon as they host league leaders Weston-super-Mare (both 1pm starts).

THERE was further cause for Staplegrove celebration on Monday as they lifted the Terry Mockridge Memorial Shieldthanks to a six-wicket win over 2016 champions Ashbrittle CC in the final.

Batting first, Matt Summerfield was Ashbrittle’s main man with 33, supported well by Alfie Venner-Woodcock (19*) and George Rowe (18), as the side from the Somerset League’s Premier Division totalled 133-8 in their 20 overs. 

Tom Pantling, Ryan Cleverly and Will Parkman each took two wickets for Staplegrove.

When the hosts, who play in the WEPL Somerset Division, came to chase the runs it was man of the match Richard Rowe with an unbeaten 46 that took them to victory, backed up by good 20-something knocks from Ian Bishop, Tom Pantling and Paul Oliver. 

George Rowe, with 3-30 in very nearly five overs, was Ashbrittle’s best bowler on the evening.

After the game had concluded, competition president Roy Takle presented trophies to the two captains – Ian Bishop of Staplegrove CC and Luke Williams of Ashbrittle CC – and the man of the match award to Rowe.

WEPL Somerset Division
Weston-super-Mare 195-7 beat Minehead 126-9 by 50 runs (D/L)

MINEHEAD failed to capitalise on a sublime start on Saturday as guests Weston recovered from 2-4 to claim victory by 50 runs.

Winning the toss and batting first in a rain shortened 35-over game, Weston captain Rob Turner could not have imagined a worse start to his side’s innings as Darren Sherring produced two overs of unplayable seam bowling .

First he had Andy Fear caught behind by Gregg Howard for a golden duck, and two balls later induced the edge of Somerset ‘keeper Ryan Davies as he too fell for nought, well caught by Ian Buchanan at slip. 

A maiden from Jay Darrell (0-8 off seven overs) in between only increased the pressure as Sherring returned to induce yet another edge, that of Simon Green, caught by Howard for 1. 

And Howard was on hand again as Chris Davidson also feathered through for yet another duck to leave his side on just two runs for the loss of four wickets.

New batsman Shabil Ahmed, dropped on nought, and Patrick Howes rode their luck early on, but they were to make the hosts pay from thereon in.

Their partnership passed 100 before Howes was caught on the square leg boundary off the bowling of Ellis Taylor (1-58) for 54.

Ahmed passed his own milestone as Turner took on the role of aggressor with power and innovation. 

He made it to 31 before being bowled by a Dan Bowditch (1-42) slower ball and Ashley Allen followed soon after for eight. 

Sam Trego (6*) placed the last ball of the innings for four as Weston posted 195-7 from their 35 overs, Ahmed finishing on 64 not out.

More rain meant the Minehead innings was reduced to 29 overs, and the revised target was now 176 to win.

Openers Buchanan (10) and Braden Taylor (8) started well against the new ball pairing of Charl Willoughby (2-22) and Tom Chambers (2-25), but both fell cheaply after some enterprising strokes and, when Liam Muggeridge was caught at slip for 1, Minehead were in strife at 21-3.

Captain Andrew Stevens and Alastair Harrison set about steadying the ship and had moved the score passed 50 when the latter was adjudged LBW for 19.

Bowditch (15) was the only other batsman to make double figures, however, as Allen (2-29) and Howes (3-11) swept Minehead aside. 

Stevens held firm to end 31 not out, but his side ultimately fell 50 short on 126-9.

Minehead face a tough trip to Bridgwater II on Saturday.