Wellington Cricket Club

Wellington Sunday XI ensured that it was a hat-trick of wins for the Red and Blacks senior sides over the weekend when they saw off Somerset League Division Three side for the eighth time in eleven friendly meetings by 130 runs as all who played made an impression.
With James Dyke becoming the third player to captain the side this season with David Derrick still out and Alex Sparks on the injury list as well, he won the toss and elected to bat first.
A wicket was lost early before Dyke and Rob Moysey added 153 for the second wicket as Dyke drove powerfully on his way to a capital 68.
All the time Moysey was accumulating runs at a pace and he made his third century in this fixture, eventually been out for 107 – another classic knock from a player who loves batting for the Sunday XI.
Matt Daniel with 45no and Thom Trott with 24 raised Wellington over the 250 mark and Max Capaldi closed the innings in the grand manner with a six to get Wellington to 273-5 at tea.

Through Powell and Strang Langport made a steady reply to the large total that they faced, but they got to 41 before Powell was well caught and bowled by James Webber who bowled well in his 8 overs.
Jake Nicol bowled well too, but without reward.
There was a wicket on senior debut for Aaron Chugg as James Webber held on to a chance from Strang.
He did well on his first outing and 1-42 in 5 overs was a good effort from a bowler who was not afraid to pitch the ball up.
Grimstead with a powerful 30 and Edwards with 16no saw that Langport nearly saw out their allocation, but their innings was ended by Thom Trott and Rob Moysey as Wellington’s good Sunday record carried on.

Wellington are up to third in Division One of the Somerset League with this good win at local rivals Staplegrove when they came through to win by 61 runs as a fine bowling effort paid handsome dividends.
Staplegrove put Wellington into bat on winning the toss and it was not hard to see why after the week’s worth of rain that had occurred made for a slow, low surface.
Wellington did not get away well at all as former Wellington fast bowler Simon Salt removed Matt Daniel in the third over, but Mark Salter and Marc Holloway got going with a 33 run stand for the second wicket that was broken when Holloway was caught for 14.
Salter batted manfully for 41 with five fours and a six. but he suffered a hamstring injury and was restricted thereafter – had he been fully fit he would have realised the potential his innings had to offer.
Rob Moysey played a patient and controlled knock of 24 that bound Wellington’s middle order together and there were vital knocks of 26 and 24 from John Paine and Alec Short respectively, but Wellington had hoped to get to around 180, but had been dismissed for 167 in the last over.
Pantling with 4-32 in 10 overs was Staplegrove’s best bowler on the day.

Staplegrove openers Penny and Sizer started in belligerent mood as they hit 29 off of six overs before Penny nailed one straight to Paul Short at cover and the Wellington skipper held on to one of two excellent catches that he took on the day.
Short got Sizer as he tried to slam the living daylights out of a short ball and only succeeded in finding Thom Trott at short fine leg and took a tumbling catch and Wellington were back in the game.
Staplegrove skipper Craggs held his side’s innings together as wickets tumbled around him and the home side’s attempt on the 168 required was in tatters.
Max Capaldi and Rob Moysey claimed three wickets to go with two each for Thom Trott and Paul Short as Wellington spun their way to 33 points and with bottom side South Petherton visiting Courtland Road on Saturday Wellington will want to make it six defeats in six for them.

A third century in four matches was critical in Wellington 2nd XI winning a second Somerset League Reserves Competition Division One fixture in succession as skipper Richard Henwood made a sparkling 111 last weekend.
As was the case in the 1st XI match Staplegrove won the toss and opted to bowl first and when Wellington were reduced to 35-4 with Read and Miller getting amongst the wickets it looked like the visitors to Courtland Road were going to edge things, but Henwood played the best innings of his relatively short Wellington career as he hit 15 fours and three sixes, adding 72 with Matt Weaver and 75 with Bob Trott as he single-handedly marshalled his team through their innings.
Only Weaver with 18 and Julian Jones with 11 made double figures for Wellington otherwise.
Sensible batting play by Martin Short and Steve Symons ensured that Staplegrove did not gain any more bonus points.

The Staplegrove inning swas not concluded until the last ball of the match as they crawled along at just over two runs per over.
Martin Short and Charlie Last bowled well in tandem with Short taking 2-14 in 12 fine and controlled overs and Last took 1-23 in 10 overs delivered in two spells.
There were three wickets apeice for Jake Nicol and Bob Trott as Wellington eventually got the job done, but it was hard work as Staplegrove ground out a reply that eventually gave Wellington a 73 run win and 34 points.

Wellington Sunday XI lost their second match of the Bank Holiday weekend to the weather when heavy rain swamped Courtland Road on the morning of the match leaving numerous puddles on the square and the outfield.
Their match with Somerset League Division Three side North Curry went the way of the local derby the previous day.

The local derby was scuppered for the second successive season as morning rain on the day of the match prompted the fixture to be cancelled. Courtland Road was awash after ten hours rain and the match was abandoned without a ball being bowled at 11.00am.
Sampford Arundel, who play in Division Five of the Somerset League, visit for a 20/20 match on Wednesday 4th June when conditions will be more favourable hopefully.

Having conceded over 200 runs to bottom side Winscombe, Wellington 2nd XI responded in the grand manner by chasing down the total with a massive ten overs to spare in this Somerset League Reserves competition Division One match to collect 30 points and improve their position in the table.
Richard Henwood won the toss and opted to bat first, but saw Stephens and Vowles add 38 for the home side’s first wicket as the Wellington attack was loose at times.
Bob Trott applied a measure of control to proceedings as he sent down twelve excellent overs of off-spin for only 36 runs and with the ball flying to the boundary these were impressive figures indeed.
Simon Rudd with 1-50 in 12 overs did a good job too, but Stephens with 64 and Andow with 65no got the home side to 211-5 in 45 overs.
There were wickets for Richard Henwood and Matt Weaver and a run out from the last ball of Winscombe’s innings to give Wellington five bonus points from their time in the field.

There was no indication that Wellington would score their runs at 6.05 runs per over, but that is how it was as Kevin Crout and Julian Jones cracked an 88 run partnership for the opening wicket in 18 overs. Crout made 30 with four fours before he was first out.
Jones was timing the ball well and playing in a manner reminiscent of his blockbusting 141no against Staplegrove 2nd XI last season and he passed fifty with seven fours and a six to his credit.
Trevor Brooks made a good 16 before been second out with the score at 129, but then Jones and Simon Rudd went ballistic as they added 83 runs in 10 overs to take the score from 129-2 as it was when Brooks was out to the asking total of 212.
Jones hit five more fours and two sixes to remain unbeaten on 113no and Rudd hit five fours and a six in a score of 39no.
The last four overs they faced went for 49 runs as Winscombe were comprehensively beaten by eight wickets.
Kennedy returned the ‘best’ figures for the home side with 1-76 in 9 overs.
This was a crucial win for Wellington 2nd XI having lost badly last time out, but, as with the 1st XI, this will give them a good feeling going into the local derby with Staplegrove next weekend.

Westlands opted to bat first on a true track and this decision was vindicated as Davis and Hallam put on 90 for the Yeovil based side’s first wicket in 20 overs as they both played well realising 51 and 36 each.
Matt Daniel got the breakthrough as he got one through Hallam’s defences.
A good catch by Thom Trott saw the back of Davis as Max Capaldi bowled a very good spell of off-spin as he delivered nine overs for only 22 runs.
Tipler and Lee added further good runs for Westlands who were paying their first visit to Wellington for a league match since 2001, but after this pair were separated their innings stagnated to the extent of only getting to 215-9 in 45 overs.
Paul Short with 4-45 and Matt Daniel with 3-66 were the main wicket takers for Wellington.
Wellington caught well and this earnt them valuable bonus points.

Matt Daniel cover drove for four twice, but was caught behind by a snorter of a delivery from Montacute and worse was to follow as he found himself on a hat-trick, but this was averted and worse was to follow for Westlands when they lost their keeper Hallam with a dislocated shoulder.
Mark Salter and Mark Saunders added 65 for the third wicket as Wellington rallied. Saunders slammed five fours in six scoring shots as he made 35 before been the recipient of a dubious LBW decision.
Worse was to follow as Salter was trapped palpably in front for the same score as Saunders had been dismissed for and at 90-4 Wellington were in trouble once more.
Paul Short was hitting the ball well and racking up a steady flow of singles as Westlands pushed the field back despite Wellington’s precarious nature.
Thom Trott with 13 batted with his skipper to get the score to 116 before he was bowled trying to flick the ball to leg – this left Wellington needing 100 to win in 15 overs and they had much to do, but Short and John Paine stepped up to the plate in fine style and added the runs needed without incurring further loss of wickets as they wrested the advantage away from Westlands in spectacular style.
With excellent running between the wickets and some good shots for four as well they engineered a fine run chase for Wellington.
Westlands lack of a specialist keeper benefited Wellington as 27 runs came from byes and leg byes.
The visitors had gambled in bowling their three main bowlers out before the end of the innings and the 7.2 overs delivered by the three other bowlers employed went for 47 runs – a big slice of the partnership that Short and Paine put on.
Short made a round 50no and Paine 42no to gain 34 points for Wellington. Westlands left with 15.
Wellington find themselves in seventh place in Division One of the Somerset League after this result and will want to move up the table, but after disappointing results against North Newton and Ilton this means the team will travel to Staplegrove next weekend for their derby match in good spirit.

The Sunday XI brightened the mood following the previous day’s results with a 117 run win at Staplegrove in a fixture that replaced the originally scheduled match with Barrington.
Alex Sparks opted to bat first on a good track and saw Rob Moysey and Alec Short add 133 for the opening wicket as Wellington bossed the opening exchanges.
Short played a good knock of 36 with three fours before he was trapped LBW to Hardiman (2-46).
Moysey was launching himself into the Staplegrove attack and the Sunday batting form he showed in 2007 has continued into 2008 as he broke another record by making the highest individual score ever posted by a Wellington player as he cracked 179 with 23 fours and six sixes as he dominated all that came his way.
He was out with the score at 244 when he was caught on the boundary by Pantling who held a good catch.
Alex Sparks was played well too and the Wellington skipper got to 65no by tea with Max Capaldi joining him with 10no.
Wellington had posted the third highest score the club had ever made in friendly competition and the joint third highest ever.
Staplegrove had kept going all afternoon and had their catching being a bit more clinical then it could have been a different story.

Wellington were able to use all their bowling options and all enjoyed some success. James Webber and Jake Nicol bowled a good opening burst of six overs each as they hit the right line and length from the start. Webber got the first wicket to fall when Max Capaldi took a good catch at square leg.
Webber was on hand to take a catch in James Dyke’s first over as Stratton was removed for 20.
Staplegrove reacted well from this as Trump and skipper G.Bishop added 70 for their third wicket making 42 and 36 respectively.
Charlie Last bowled another good spell and he removed Bishop when he drove straight and hard to Paul Short who took a good catch at a deepish mid-off.
Matt Daniel bowled Trump.
Pantling made a vicious 26 with two sixes, but Alec Short with 3-11 and Paul Short with 1-4 ensured that the Staplegrove innings was wrapped up with overs to spare and in the end the Red and Blacks had a 117 run win to savour ahead of the league meeting at both 1st and 2nd XI levels on Saturday 31st May.

* The downside of this match was that both teams had a player that suffered a broken finger in this match. Staplegrove’s Brian Bishop suffered a broken little finger when attempting to take a catch off of Rob Moysey and Wellington’s Alex Sparks too broke a little finger when standing-up to the wicket whilst wicketkeeping. Alex will be out for at least three weeks – everyone wishes both Brian and Alex a speedy recovery.

* Thanks go to Staplegrove for hosting Wellington after their original match with Barrington was cancelled by mutual agreement.

At 119-4 with 18 overs to go Wellington 2nd XI were looking good for a score of around 180 or so in this Somerset League Reserves Competition Division One fixture, but they proceeded to lose their last six wickets for 8 runs in 7.1 overs to hand the initiative to Bridgwater 3rd XI and ultimately the match as they lost by eight wickets and collected only eight points in the process.
Bridgwater won a useful toss and asked Wellington to bat, but Kevin Crout and Julian Jones cashed in on some wayward bowling and had 22 runs on the board in only four overs with Jones planting a sweetly struck six over extra cover, but he played at a wide one next ball and was well caught at slip.
Vice-captain Crout smashed a half-volley uppishly to cover and was caught and both openers had gone with on the same score.
Matt Colman did the supporting role this week as Trevor Brooks made the highest score of his brief Wellington career as he made a fine 37 with six fours and a six and he was looking set for bigger things when he was yorked by Epps (2-26 in 10 overs).
Colman was then trapped LBW to leave Wellington at 71-4 in 15 overs.
Skipper Richard Henwood (26) and Chris Rudd (27no) got going again with a fifth wicket stand of 48 that had put the Red and Blacks second string into a good position to push on from, but the introduction of Windsor (3-0 in 2.1 overs) brought everything crashing down to earth with a bump as Wellington were dismissed for 127 in 34.1 overs – a real disappointment to say the least.
Bridgwater had fielded well throughout their time in the field.

Wellington strived hard in the field, but were unable to get the breakthrough until Bridgwater had nearly chased down the total.
Richard Henwood, Martin Short and Chris Rudd each had very good LBW shouts turned down leaving them exasperated.
Short bowled his 12 overs for only 22 runs, but Bridgwater always had wickets in hand to push on with and through Cowley (47) and Tompkins (66no) they laid a base of 122 runs for the opening wicket.
The game was up when Cowley hit Trevor Brooks high to deep mid-wicket where Richard Henwood took a great running catch.
Berry – who had made 125no the previous week – was sacrificed as Bridgwater tried to close the deal and they did with a four from Tompkins who had played a good innings.
Bridgwater 3rd XI took 35 points to Wellington 2nd XI’s eight and the team’s visit to bottom side Winscombe next weekend takes on an importance even at this early stage of the season.

Going into this Somerset League Division One fixture Ilton were without a win, but they comprehensively beat the Red and Blacks with overs and wickets to spare to take 31 points to Wellington’s 13.
Ilton asked Wellington to bat first on winning the toss, but it looked to have backfired as Mark Salter and Matt Daniel put on 101 for the first wicket in 22 overs of exciting strokeplay.
Daniel played the anchor role and made a capital 36 before been first out caught.
This fine start was in danger of being squandered as the score fell to 124-3, but Mark Saunders – making his first league appearance of the season – came to the fore and with Salter added 53 fourth wicket runs.
Salter was within shouting distance of a league century when he was fourth out at 177 in the 41st over.
He had made 85 and had played an innings of quality with nine fours and a six.
Saunders was unbeaten on 30no and a good innings of 10no from Alec Short got Wellington over the 200 mark for the first time this season and at 204-6 at tea Wellington were in good mood.

But Ilton belied their low position by batting well throughout the 41.5 overs it took them to get to the 205 required for victory. No-one made a massive score, but fifties from each of Venn (52), Williams (54no) and Oliver (56no) were sufficient to see the home side over the line.
Thom Trott bowled twelve fine overs for only 34 runs, but wickets were hard to come by as an aggregate of 412-9 shows.
Paul Short bowled his off-spin well for his side and took a caught-and-bowled offering to finish with 1-34 in 9 overs.
A wicket for Marc Holloway and a run-out constituted Wellington’s other successes in the field, but Ilton had won by seven wickets and left Wellington needing to get back to winning ways when the entertain Westlands this weekend – the first Somerset League meeting between the two side’s 1st XIs in 12 years and the first at any level since 2001.