Wellington 2nd XI stay top of Division Five of the Somerset League following this topsy turvy 28 run home win over Belvedere last weekend and are just a point clear of Trull and it seems as if the two teams who have battled for this prize the most this season will be those who will do so to the very end.

Wellington’s run in – on paper at least – looks easier than Trull’s with the bottom two sides in successive weeks and then the long haul to mid-table side Peasedown St John to make on the last day, but nothing is to be taken for granted.

On a hot day once more Mark Salter captained Wellington and lost the toss and it was he and Trevor Brooks who opened up for the Red and Blacks second string and it was Brooks who started in fine form with the bat as he drove the overpitched ball well on the up through both the covers and the mid off areas a Belvedere struggled to maintain a consistent line; 46 were added when Brooks was caught in the covers for 31 and he had played well.

Dave Luxton crashed a four and six and showed a glimpse of the play that made him such a pivotal feature of the Club’s 1st XI in the 1980s and 1990s in terms of brutal batting, but he drove over the top of one and was bowled for ten with the score at 63-2.

Ben Evett carried on from his knock at Street the previous day by hitting a six for his first scoring shot and making it to 30 in a fast and energetic manner before been third out at 114.

Mark Salter had played a good hand for 33 to this point, but he pulled up short when going for a single and retired injured with a calf strain.

Good bowling from McCrea (3-33), Crockett (3-36) and Robinson (3-33) – each in nine overs – pulled things back for Belvedere as Wellington kept losing wickets at regular times with Neil Hendy making 15 and Richard Henwood 14.

At 158-8 still with lots of overs left and Mark Salter still been treated for his injury it needed some time spent at the crease and it came from two teenagers in Ryan Henwood and Tyler Fyfe who added fifteen good value runs for the ninth wicket with Henwood making 13.

Salter did return and two more runs were added before Henwood was out bowled and Wellington were all out for 175 with 8.1 overs left unused as C.Neate ended matters to take 1-39 for Belvedere.

M.Hosey and McCrea got into their stride well with a 63 run opening stand for the side from Weston Super Mare who were to bat one man short due to Neville’s nasty hand injury that saw him need to travel to Musgrove Park for A and E treatment; they were both in good form and seemed to have set a platform for their side to go on from.

It was a fine dual burst of medium pace from Richard Henwood and Neil Hendy that got Wellington back into the game when McCrea drove one to Ryan Adams in the covers off of Henwood and then he flattened the castle of Hosey for 30 and with Hendy taking the wickets of Hooper and S.Neate – both for ducks – Belvedere were 75-4 and in trouble with 101 more needed to win; Henwood took 2-13 in nine overs and Hendy 2-30 in eight overs.

Crockett with 34 and C.Neate with 25 added 53 for the visitors fifth wicket and this gave them a foothold back in the game.

Macaulay Campbell bowled an excellent spell of medium pace that combined accuracy and control and his efforts were rewarded with 2-17 as the Red and Blacks second string closed in on a good win.

Ben Evett’s leg spinners were potent as he removed both Crockett and C.Neate on his way to taking 3-13 in 3.1 overs as 137-5 became 147 all out one ball into the 41st over and 33 points came the way of the home side.