Wellington 2nd XI started life in Division One of the Somerset League’s Reserves competition and found out quickly what will be needed to prosper at the higher level following their promotion to this level.
Playing last season’s runners-up was a stiff enough task anyway and so it proved to be as the visitors to Courtland Road ran out victors by 67 runs.

James Dyke asked Chard to bat first and they started cautiously against Adrian Lee and Martin Short who bowled well in tandem. Lee probed a consistent off-stump line and got the initial breakthrough when Dunn fenced at one and Kevin Crout was waiting behind the sticks to accept the chance – one of four dismissals for the Wellington vice-captain.
The game then rather stagnated as Chard did not run away with matters – indeed they only reached 115-1 in 30 overs – but no further breakthrough was forthcoming until Glenn – who had been dropped earlier – was bowled by Gary Tillett who delivered a top quality spell of off-spin bowling.
Tillett took 1-30 in 12 overs delivered in succession, he spun the ball sharply at times and had several good LBW shouts turned down. In the last over of his spell three chances went down as Chard threw the bat.
Chris Rudd recovered from a slightly expensive start to bowl his off-cutters to good effect and figures of 2-71 in 12 overs don’t really tell the story of how he bowled.
He removed the free-scoring Crew for 39 and later gave Kevin Crout one of his three stumpings that came about as Chard tried to force the pace at the end of their innings.
Bob Trott with 2-9 also profited from this ‘crash and dash’ approach as Chard 2nd XI closed on 186-6 in 45 overs – less than they would have liked with the wickets they had in hand.

It looked a long way off when Wellington were reduced to 17-4 in 12 overs as Sochon and Hawes ran riot with the ball.
They generated good pace and movement and Wellington struggled to cope with this.
Chris Rudd and Bob Trott steadied things with a fifth wicket stand of 32. Rudd made a good 21 with a great straight six been his best shot.
He was bowled by the slingy Saunders in the end.
David Derrick joined Bob Trott and they enjoyed another useful offering in partnership terms as they added 19 sixth wicket runs – they dealt with the off-spin of Wyatt well enough and did not look in any real bother, but both departed on with the score on 68 as Trott was caught behind off a top edge for 16 and Derrick – having swept left-arm spinner Warren for an elegant boundary four – was trapped right in front going for the same shot and was out palpably LBW for seven.
Adrian Lee joined Martin Short and they played two all-action innings that got Wellington’s score up to over a hundred.
Lee hit 22 as he took on Warren and won – for a while at least – lifting him over the boundary for six, but the bowler won the duel in the end on his way to 4-25 in 6 overs.
Short top scored with 25 and was last man out at 119.
Chard 2nd XI took 34 points from this match to Wellington 2nd XI’s 11.