CRICKET: Taunton St Andrew's record West of England Premier League win over Goatacre

TAUNTON St Andrew’s bounced back from the previous weekend’s defeat with a 120-run victory at Goatacre that keeps them top of the table.

Put in to bat in damp conditions, Saints lost Tom Banton for 15, but Ed Byrom (67), James Regan (80) and Lloyd Alley (57) saw the visitors motor on to 241-4.

Jonathan Wilkins (2-55 off nine overs) brought about a middle order wobble, but the lower order rolled their sleeves up, with JJ Poole (19), Deven Bell (23no) and James Hayman (18no) adding quick-fire scores to reach 320-8 off 50 overs.

In reply, the home side reached 44 before the first wicket fell, as Ross Dixie made 33 and Toby Horton 24.

But from 76-2 they slipped to 130-9 as Jack Cooper (4-34 off 10) ran amok, only for David Miles (41no) and Matthew House (30) to return fire.

Joe Wadham ended their fun, with Goatacre all out for 200 off 38.4 overs.

This Saturday sees Saints host Potterne (12.30pm start).

James Regan said: “The first thing I said to the boys this season, was that a defining factor would be how we came back after a defeat.

“And nine times out of 10, if you put 320 on the board, you back yourself to win.

“It wasn’t a pitch you could bat normally on – eventually there would be a ball with your name on it – so I took the attacking option.

“We had players going in to try and increase the run rate, risking their wicket, because everyone works for the team.”

He added: “The club is buzzing at the moment, it feeds right down to our fourth team.

“Potterne will be a huge test, as they have several superstars who can win a game on their own.

“We’ll need to be at our best, as I think this will be our toughest game so far.”

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West of England Premier League
Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset
Taunton Deane 123 lost to Ilminster 124-3 by 7 wkts

A POOR batting performance at The Convent Field saw the Deane fall off the pace in the promotion chase.

Skipper Harry Thomas opted to bat first on a slow track and the Deane were soon in trouble, losing Robert Woodman to the bowling of Harry Montacute for nine.

Alastair Warren and Calvin Harrison set about stabilising the innings and made steady progress until Warren became Montacute’s second victim in a tidy spell.

Harrison continued the good work until he became the first of Charlie Vickery’s four wickets, falling for what turned out to be a top score of 34.

Wickets toppled with alarming regularity as James Thompson joined Vickery in a match-winning spell.

Only Luke Williams (18) hit double figures as the innings petered out for just 123.

Extras, at 28, was the second-highest score as Vickery closed with 4-14 off six, Thompson 3-25 off nine and Montacute 2-16 off eight.

Lesson learned, the Ilminster batsmen took no liberties on the Convent Field track.

Openers Louis Kraucamp and Jonny Warry stuck around to build a strong foundation in chasing a low total.

Warry was the first to go for 16, becoming the first of Calvin Harrison’s two victims, both trapped lbw.

This brought Charlie Vickery to the wicket and he and Kraucamp continued the steady progress towards the target.

Kraucamp fell to Harrison for a watchful 34, while Matt Davis joined Vickery in another useful stand.

Vickery (30), with the finishing line in sight, fell to a catch from Sam Shaikh off the bowling of Rob Pryke.

Davis remained solid to end unbeaten with 27 as the match was won in the 38th over.

Harrison ended with the fine figures of 2-13 off 10 overs, while Tom Walsh (0-20 off eight) and Shohel Rana (0-14 off six) bowled well without that element of luck.

The defeat saw the Deane slip to fourth in the division behind Ilminster, while Lansdown made their move at the top by beating a strong Weston-super-Mare XI.

Taunton Deane are without a league match this weekend, while the 2nds travel to Middlezoy in the Somerset Premier and the 3rds visit North Petherton 2nds.

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TAUNTON had a bye last weekend but return to Premier 2 action on Saturday when they entertain Shapwick & Polden (12.30 start).

Without a win so far, Taunton will fancy their chances against a struggling Shapwick side.

Taunton 2nds travel to Minehead 2nds in the Somerset League Division 2 while the 3rds entertain Middlezoy 2nds.

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BOTH Staplegrove and Minehead picked up wins in WEPL Somerset.

Grove's was their first victory of the season, by 94 runs against Uphill Castle.

They were all out for 156, Ian Bishop top scoring with 35, but the skittled Uphill for just 62, as Bishop took 4-16 off seven overs to round off a superb all-round display.

Alastair Harrison hit 77 as Minehead put on 215-8 against Wembdon, and Darren Sherring's 4-23 helped the hosts win by 30 runs.

This Saturday, Grove travel to Bridgwater 2nds, while Minehead go to Uphill Castle.