A spirited effort by Wellington 2nd XI’s lower middle order was not quite enough to overcome West Somerset League Division One side Churchinford in the First Round of the Somerset Cricket Board’s Minor Cup last Wednesday evening when the Red and Blacks second string were some nine runs short in the end after their run chase.

Asking Churchinford to bat first saw Wellington get a wicket in the first over when Tom Perry bowled Burge, but it was 78 more runs until a second one fell as Troy-Brown with a feisty 48 and Scott with 24 took charge of the game and the home side seemed set for a total over 150. but Wellington fought back well as Rob Moysey, Ryan Adams and Jake Nichol took two wickets each to see that Churchinford were reduced to 103-7… A final score of 131-7 was achieved through Francombe’s 26no.

Naylor with 1-5 in four overs was exemplary with the ball for the home side and at 19-3 Wellington were battling to get going, but they got a foothold in the game as Joe Horne and Des Campbell added 20 for the fourth wicket and this good work was continued by Horne and Ryan Adams and with some sixes been hit by each all of sudden there was a shift in momentum and Wellington were in with a chance all of a sudden.

Horne’s excellent 44 saw him add 45 with Tom Perry for the sixth wicket and this kept the home team guessing as Perry cracked 30 with three sixes.

Rob Moysey hit a six from the first ball of the last over and another one would have made it mighty interesting, but that was where the Wellington fightback closed as no more maxima were forthcoming and Churchinford squeezed home by nine runs.