This was a great end of season match at Chard last Sunday when Wellington prevailed to complete the friendly double over the new WEPL (Somerset Division) and Somerset League Reserves Champion Club – the first time the Red and Blacks had done this since 2006.
Opting to bat first on a track that had some give in it Rob Moysey and Marc Holloway got off to a solid, but cautious start as Chard’s opening attack of Wells-Burr and S.Dening was controlled and measured.
But as the partnership developed so the bad ball came along and with both Wellington openers being dropped they cashed in in terms of adding 131 excellent runs – Holloway was very strong on the pull and this was a hard shot to play on a pitch showing signs that autumn is on the way.
Holloway was first to go when he was caught on the deep mid-wicket boundary and was gone for 76.
There was a fifty for Moysey as he got to 56 before a great diving catch from S.Dening saw the end of another great knock.
Wellington then found Chard started to hold their catches and the home side got back into things through with a triple wicket maiden over from Clancy (4-27) and Cleal with 3-21 got the Red and Blacks middle order in a bit of a tangle, but through Aks Latifi, David Derrick, Rowan Varkevisser, Adrian Lee and Josh Moysey the innings got past the 200 mark with some gritty play that sorted out the slight wobble and Wellington ended on 204-8 at tea – less than it should have been given a 131 run start, but still a decent score on a slow pitch.
Adrian Lee and Rowan Varkevisser were in fine form with the new ball for Wellington as they reduced Chard to 20-4 and the home side were in trouble, but a fine fifth wicket stand between their skipper C.Scott who made a fine 71 and Cleal who played a great hand too in making 44 gave Wellington a few anxious moments and with Richard Henwood suffering a knee injury when he tangled with the boundary hoardings Wellington were down to ten men with two batsmen at the crease who were set.
The introduction of Rob Moysey into the attack spun things Wellington’s way as Max Capaldi took a fine boundary catch from the first ball of his spell to see the back of Cleal.
Rowan Varkevisser rejoined the attack and his second spell was vital for Wellington as he took three wickets for very little cost in taking 5-18 in 8 overs overall and he was on a hat-trick.
Moysey got rid of C.Scott through Adrian Lee’s well judged catch at long-off and the danger men were back in the pavilion and Wellington were closing in on a good victory and at 151-9 with over fifty needed by Chard the game seemed up, but Seward with 37 had other ideas as he played a classy innings with some of the best cover drives you could wish to see and with S.Dening chipping in with 7 from number eleven a last wicket stand of 38 was developing complications for Wellington, but a brute of a leg-spinner from Rob Moysey got through Seward’s defence and a fine fifteen run win was Wellington’s in what had been a good game all round.
The Club plays it’s last match of the 2009 season at Langport on Sunday 13th September and the team will leave from Courtland Road Car Park at 11.45am for a 1.00pm start – players are asked to note this information.
Dinner and Dance ticket requests and menu choices need to be sent through to Club Chairman Duncan Short via e-mail ASAP – details at www.sportinwellington.co.uk/cricket.