Wellington 2nd XI travelled to bottom side Curry Rivel in Division Six South of the Somerset League last weekend and came away with 31 points and so are a step closer to achieving the promotion that they set their sights on at the start of the season, but they were made to work every step of the way by a resilient side who played way above their lowly position.

Alex Troake’s team was asked to bat first on losing the toss and saw 25 runs go on the board before Thom Trott was out for 16.

Cue Lewis Sparks to join Oli Beale and they added 112 for the second wicket as both played in a free-flowing manner that saw runs come at a good rate.

Sparks was in good touch once more when the injury curse that seemed to be present on the day hit again with a hamstring injury curtailing his ability to move freely came to pass and trying all he could to hit out was bowled for 42; he was unable to take to the field after tea.

Beale continued to a sparkling 91 with two sixes and whole load of fine stroke play before been third out at 181.

From then on Andy Hurry with 46, Jacob Hurry with 19no and Rob Moysey with 13 got Wellington’s second string to 253-6.

For the home side Selway with 2-45 in eight overs and J.Acton with 2-49 in six overs were their most successful bowlers.

Curry Rivel may be bottom, but they certainly were not going to roll over as the 72-run opening stand that Higginson and J.Acton compiled showed; this was only ended when a call for a second run was refused and Macaulay Campbell’s excellent throw from the boundary ran out Acton for 33.

Tilley joined Higginson and played a robust knock of 34 and whilst he would have had to have gone some to get Rivel towards the 254 required he gave Wellington’s second string some anxious moments all the same, but with the score at 118-1 he holed out to Macaulay Campbell, once more fielding on the boundary, from Oli Beale and any chance of the home side threatening to chase successfully was gone.

Higginson (50) was caught by Ian Hewson at mid-on from Thom Trott who, along with Oli Beale, applied the brakes that Wellington needed to see get applied.

Trott with 8-1-29-2 and Beale with 8-0-30-2 bowled well in tandem.

The margin of victory was 73 runs and that is comfortable enough, but Wellington had to work hard to get this success.

Thanks go to Isla Hendy for stepping in to play at the last minute when James Brackenbury had to go up to the 1st XI due to the injury sustained by Ben Evett in their warm up.