Wellington find themselves forty points off the Somerset League summit after losing to Staplegrove at home last weekend; this was the first time that the Taunton side had beaten Wellington at 1st XI level since 2006 and it could yet be a big win for them as they occupy second place and hold a 26 point advantage over Wellington as a result of this win.

North Petherton are top and still unbeaten and while their batting did not make it much past 150 for the third week in a row the fact they despatched Purnells for just 49 sees them still set the pace with Wellington travelling to Heathfield Park this weekend for a crucial fixture.

On a pitch that had received a lot of rain the previous day the toss was going to see the side losing it asked to bat and Paul Short asked the Grove to take first knock; Thom Trott and Robbie Rexworthy took the new ball for Wellington and kept prolific Grove captain Dan Sizer in check, he was dropped on his way to 29 as his current purple patch was checked for once, Paul Short caught and bowled his opposite number to make Grove 68-3.

Earlier Trott had made Pantling pad up and be trapped plumb in front and Rexworthy yorked Hodge as Grove made steady progress with wickets in hand, through Bird with 66no and Craggs with 31 they added 87 fifth wicket runs and this saw what could have been no more than a reasonable total become a decent one and the Grove would surely have settled for 181-5 in 45 overs after been sent in.

Paul Short and Rob Moysey bowled well in tandem and Robbie Rexworthy’s direct hit at the bowler’s end from the boundary was a great effort to see the back of Craggs.

Wellington would need 182 to win.

A wicket was lost early, but Alex Sparks – back with Wellington after his time in Manchester – started to time the ball delightfully as he hit 46 and looked on course for a lot more than that, he and Paul Short added 48 for the second wicket before the Wellington skipper was out for 11, caught in the covers, another wicket followed next ball before Sparks and Marc Holloway got the score up towards 100 needed to win, but Sparks was trapped LBW by Brock (2-35 in 12) and another wicket was lost just one run later and at 78-5 Wellington were rocking somewhat, but the ever reliable Rob Moysey and Holloway added 43 sixth wicket runs and this was turning the game once more for Wellington, this stand was ended when Holloway was caught for 30 and was that to be the end of the Wellington effort?

Thom Trott answered this question with a careful knock of 14 as he ran the ball around well in tandem with Moysey who did same and made 39no all told; they had added 36 for the seventh wicket and were not in trouble when disaster struck and saw Trott run out when a call for a single went wrong.

Staplegrove seized the chance and despatched the last three wickets for just three runs to secure a 21 run win and take 34 points back to Taunton.

Wellington perhaps did not play their best ever game, but should have closed this one out; they need to rise to the challenge that next weekend’s match with North Petherton brings – I am sure they will.