Wellington made it three wins out of three in what pre-season games could be played as the Sunday XI won well at Sidmouth last weekend as the home Club put out their 2nd XI who play in third tier of Devon’s County League.

New Team Captain Macaulay Campbell won the toss and opted to bat first and saw his side get to 23-3 as Sidmouth fielded well; Miles Cave was out to a good catch at point, Rob Moysey was run out by a direct hit from the boundary and Mark Bray was set when he a got a tough LBW decision, so consolidation was needed…

It came through 1st XI Vice Captain Luke Desave and 1st XI Captain Arron Campbell as they added an imperious 148 runs for the fourth Wellington wicket as Desave nearly made a second ton in successive such fixtures following his 132 made in 2016; he smashed 90 with 3 sixes and Campbell was good value for 48 with 2 sixes as they dominated the Sidmouth attack throughout their stay at the crease.

Good late batting play from Aks Latifi, Jack Beal, Macaulay Campbell and Will Derrick saw Wellington close in on 200 at the end of their 40 overs as Knowles with 5-20 bowled well at the death for Sidmouth.

After another top tea at the seaside Wellington set about defending their total and they did it with aplomb as Will Derrick ripped out the middle stump of Sidmouth keeper Mansfield with the first ball he faced and when Miles Cave saw his keeping catch see the back of Thomas off of Derrick Sidmouth were 7-2 and in a spot of bother.

The sight of Sidmouth skipper Griffiths coming to the crease reminded some of the Wellington side of the runs he has scored against the Red and Blacks down the seasons and he had made a solid 13 when Tyler Fyfe turned him right round and removed his middle stump for a great scalp for the left arm seamer.

Fyfe took another wicket with a bouncer that was well hooked by Knowles, but he only found Jack Beal on the boundary and the winner of the catching award for the past two seasons was not going to drop it.

Rob Moysey spun the ball hard as his leg spin worked well on a dry wicket that has responded well to testing the late winter season conditions.

Arron Campbell’s off spin took 3-19 in 5.2 overs as Sidmouth, through Seldon with 30 and Dalton with 20 put up some resistance.

A second burst from the openers, Macaulay Campbell and Will Derrick, saw more success for Derrick as he ended up with 4-17 in eight overs and Campbell with 1-20 off the same number of overs.

Luke Desave joined the attack late and bowled with pace and good direction as a 74 run Wellington win was recorded and with the ‘real deal’ beginning this coming weekend it was good to have had a full weekend of play to fall back on; what has been achieved now needs to be taken forward across the Bank Holiday period.