Wellington Cricket Club

A reminder for all Management Committee members that we are to meet at The Arts Centre, Eight Acre Lane, Wellington on Thursday 18th March from 7.30pm

The Secretary is aware of some absences, but if there are any more then please issue them via the usual channels ASAP.

An excellent first ever WCC Poker Night was held at The Dolphin Inn last Saturday when Club members and others played rounds of the Texas Hold ‘Em version of the game.

Twelve in total took part on two tables of six with the top three from each table going forward to a final game and those not in these blocks joined forces for a play-off of their own.

At the end of the night Simon Rudd triumphed on the main table with Paul Higgs and Kevin Crout taking second and third places respectively.

In the play-off match David Derrick won the match with Roly Phillips taking the runners-up spot.

Thanks to Richard Henwood for organising the event, to Nick Fenn of the Dolphin Inn and his staff for hosting and providing an excellent supper and to all who played.

The intention is to repeat the event in the summer.

Up to and including Sunday 7th March

The Club is delighted to be able to announce that local MP Jeremy Browne is to attend the latest of the Club’s youth coaching sessions to see the action and get a feel for what the project is about.

The session in question is that which will take place on Friday 12th March at Court Fields Community School from 6pm.

Wellington were in the ascendancy throughout last Sunday’s second indoor match against Cullompton as they made a fine 146 with the bat and restricted the Devon side to less than half of that.

Paul Short and Richard Henwood gave Wellington a fine start, but both were out in consecutive balls as Henwood was run out and Short was bowled and it was Marc Holloway and Aks Latifi who bonded the Wellington innings with two retirement level scores.

Adrian Lee and Sam Murdock got some good late runs as Wellington profited from Cullompton’s high extras count.

Wellington’s bowling never let Cullompton get away, but it took until the last ball of the innings to confirm full points for Wellington.

Adrian Lee and Richard Henwood were in mean mood opening up and this laid the path for Paul Short, Marc Holloway and Sam Murdock to get what was required for a full points Red and Blacks win and with another good show behind the stumps from Aks Latifi this was a good team effort.

Wellington’s indoor side kept up its decent form in the short form of the game as it beat previously unbeaten Stogumber and then made it two in two on the day by seeing off Cullompton last Sunday.

Stogumber had got full points from the no show of South Petherton in the second match of the day, so had had an hour of inactivity before asking Wellington to bat first and with a wicket third ball of the Red and Blacks innings they had started well, but Richard Henwood and Marc Holloway did great work for Wellington to get the innings back on track after the early loss.

Aks Latifi played another sublime innings as his wristy strokes and good timing worked the ball around the arena well and he was not afraid to play with power either.

Adrian Lee and Sam Murdock got Wellington to a decent total of 118 and now had to set about defending it.

Lee got a wicket third ball in when Latifi accepted a simple chance that gently looped up and Henwood was in great show with the ball as he got the cherry swinging furiously to the plethora of left handers that Stogumber paraded – he was close with two LBW shouts before getting one perfect.

Paul Short and Marc Holloway were in good form with the ball too as they built on Lee and Henwood’s opening spell.

Short got good spin from the matting wicket and was always posing an issue as he spins the ball so sharply at times and Holloway’s tidy medium pace was delivered in a consistent and neat way.

Stogumber had to go big to keep up with the rate, but it was beyond them and they were all out for 82 in the last over when their returning opening batsman dragged one on to his castle from Short.

Names are coming in for this one, so thanks for that, but remember the event is a social one and you don’t have to play cards on the night to be there, that is just one part of it.

So any more players need to let Richard Henwood or David Derrick know by the end of the week and if you want to pop along on the night for a beer and a chat that is fine as well.

See you at The Dolphin Inn on Saturday from 7.30pm

What – WCC Poker Night

Where – Dolphin Inn, Waterloo Road, Wellington

When – Saturday 13th March, 7.30pm – late

Who – Anyone connected with WCC

Why – First social event of the new season

Contact – Richard Henwood or David Derrick

The next Management Committee meeting will take place at The Arts Centre, Eight Acre Lane, Wellington on Thursday 18th March from 7.30pm.

Management Committee members should refer to e-mails from the Secretary that contain details of this new meeting.

Our usual Good Friday groundworks session will take place on Friday 2nd April from 9.30am.

The usual preparations for the new season will need to be done and this will also be used as a chance for people to register as members for the 2010 season and pay the appropriate fee.