WEPL Premier Two
Bishopston 284 beat Taunton St Andrew’s 231-9 by 53 runs

A FINE five-wicket haul by Rob Contreras failed to save leaders Taunton St Andrew’s from their first defeat of the season.

Bishopston are the Saints’ nearest rivals at the top of the table but started poorly as Michael Leask and Lloyd Alley removed both openers with only 16 on the board.

That brought in Mark Coombes, who was to figure in two match-defining stands as he made a fine 118.

First, with David O’Brien, they added 113; then, when O’Brien was the victim of Harry Clements for 35, he was joined by Joe Wenham (48).

Together, they took the score on to 211-4.

As Bishopston pushed on Contreras claimed the wickets of Wenham and Coombes, then added three more scalps as the home side were all out for 284.

Contreras ended with 5-53 off eight, while Leask took two wickets and Alley and Clements one apiece.

Taunton St Andrew’s were always chasing the runs as seven of their batsmen reached double figures, but none could go on to make a match-winning contribution.

Kyle Hopper fell for 10 early on and Josh Horler went on to make a fine, if steady 64.

Michael Leask reached 13 before lofting the ball back to bowler Ryan Adams and Lloyd Alley looked in fine nick before falling to 33.

Contreras pushed the score on, hitting 35 at a run a ball before taking one chance too many and being run out.

As a consequence, the Saints were 53 runs short when the overs ran out.

They travel to third-placed Keynsham on Saturday.

WEPL Premier Two
Taunton Deane 116-3 beat Claverham 113 by 7 wickets

A TIGHT bowling performance enabled the Deane to cruise to victory at fellow strugglers Claverham on Saturday.

Put in to bat, the home side were immediately in trouble as Rob Pryke struck twice early on.

Mitchell Bench made slow progress as wickets fell around him and Dominic Hooper added 28 before becoming Pryke’s third victim.

With Tom Walsh coming on to take three wickets of his own, Claverham collapsed to 113 all out.

Calvin Harrison also took two wickets, while Sam Loud and Jack Fraser also chipped in.

The Deane made a solid response as Rob Woodman and Lorenzo Machado put on 33 for the first wicket before the former was out for 19.

Harrison came in to added a quick-fire 32 before Machado was out for 32 with just 11 runs required for victory.

Jack Fraser (16no) and Ali Warren (2no) saw the game through as the Deane picked up 20 welcome points.

The Deane will hope this victory marks an upturn in form after a worryingly poor start.

On Saturday, they welcome mid-table Glastonbury to the Convent Field (12.30pm start).

WEPL Premier Two 
Glastonbury 129-5 (revised) beat Taunton 143 by 5 wickets

TAUNTON slumped to their first defeat of the league season after a poor batting performance in a rain-affected encounter on Saturday.

The line-up struggled from the outset, Hugh Kelly and Jack Cooper going early to Glastonbury’s Tim Spotswood.

Charles Clist reached 14 before being out and Dan Quick 15, both victims of Ali Easton, and the innings fell into terminal decline until a late, spirited intervention by Justin Burke and skipper Ben Phillips.

Together, they took the innings past the 100-mark after Spotswood was bowled out.

However, still with overs remaining, they both fell to the returning Dan Williams - Burke for 28 and Phillips for 33 - and the innings fizzled out on 143.

Spotswood took 4-24 in 10 fine overs, while there were three wickets for Easton, two for Williams and one for Ross Jenkins.

A rain-interrupted reply left Glastonbury needing 128 to win and, for a while, it looked as if a Taunton result might be on.

Ben Phillips trapped Alfie Barron lbw for 10 after having fellow opener Cameron Rowe caught by Simon Manley for a duck.

Tom Diamond then claimed the wicket of Harry Ellison for two and things were looking up.

However, Ross Jenkins turned the tide and, with Ali Easton (28no), he saw Glastonbury over the line, ending on an unbeaten 55.
Phillips excelled, taking 2-24 off 10.

Taunton entertain Shapwick & Polden on Saturday (start 12.30pm).