The win at Heathcoat the previous day was a good one, but this one was a thumping one as Wellington recorded their first Sunday win over Street since June 2002 and at the same time saw off a side that contained five of the side that had played at Wellington last season on it’s way to securing the Somerset League title.

David Derrick opted to ask the visitors to bat and this was a good choice as it turned out.
George Coate delivered a telling opening burst with the ball as he bowled at good pace and remove Dowden and Spencer, two of the five mentioned above, in his opening spell of the season as he took 2-37 in 7 overs. A good gully catch from new signing Marc Holloway signalled the first of Coate’s wickets.
Kevin Symons took the new ball from the other end and bowled with good variety and thought. Although he did not get any reward from his first spell he cleaned up Street’s tail to finish with 2-27 in 10 overs.
Adrian Lee, despite being the only Wellington bowler not to claim a wicket, should look back on his six over spell as being a good one and one that kept Street quiet at an important time.
Street’s innings was built on W.Wall’s powerful 58 and Gerrard’s 31 and they lead their team to a very respectful 172 all out in 40 overs.
Richard das Neves came in for some harsh treatment at times when Wall was in full flow, but he came back well every time and 3-49 in 10 overs are more than useful figures.
Guy Murray, looking to build on his first senior season, was steady and accurate in his late-innings burst with 2-18. He removed Wall and Bartlett, another long-standing thorn in Wellington’s side, and these were crucial breakthroughs by the Under 15s skipper.
John Paine joined the attack late on and took 1-11 as Wellington knew at tea that they needed 173 to win.
Marc Holloway with three catches, a robust keeping display from James Dyke and Andy Perry’s slide-and-dive efforts in the outfield were Wellington’s fielding highlights.

Wellington’s reply could not have gone much better as Thom Trott and Marc Holloway put together an opening stand of 74. Seeing off the accurate Higgs and taking what was on offer at the other end was the strategy employed by them and runs came steadily thereafter. Trott pounced on the short ball and drove well on the overpitched ball as well as taking singles as the Street field dropped out as their options with the ball did not produce the desired results from their point of view.
Trott was looking set for a first fifty of 2005 when he dragged a wide ball onto his off stump from Spencer and dislodged the bail – a most unfortunate manner to get out in.
Richard das Neves joined Holloway and took Wellington to an impressive victory with an unbroken stand of exactly 100 for the second wicket. Holloway milked the bowling well for a constant stream of singles and twos before breaking out as victory approached, no better exemplifed when he smashed Dowden for a six over the top of the bowler’s head. He ended on 69no – a top effort on home debut having joined Wellington from Bagborough.
das Neves established himself before hitting a strong innings of 51no as he reached the landmark just before the winning runs were hit. Two sixes were the highlights as well as strong, confident running between the wickets. Wellington had four overs to spare when a nine wicket win was posted and an excellent weekend was complete.

The serious business starts next week with the start of the 2005 Somerset League season, but the club has high hopes for the season and now needs to fulfil them at all levels.