Wellington 3rd XI should have beaten Somerset League Division Seven South leaders Taunton St Andrews 4th XI on the road at Bishop Fox’s School last weekend, but, for a second week running, the last wicket stand for the opposing side made all the difference.

Des Campbell won the toss and elected to bat on a dry and grassless pitch and soon Dave Luxton and Richard Henwood were adding a 49 run opening stand in seven overs as TSA’s attack was too short and this was cashed in on by Wellington; the merry spree was ended when Luxton was LBW to home skipper S.Hockey for 21 as he took 2-19 in eight good overs of off spin.

At 96-4 Andy Hurry joined Henwood and they added a classy 95 runs for the fifth wicket as Hurry crafted a knock of 48 to go with Henwood’s eventual cracking 88.

Wickets fell late on, but Wellington got to full batting points through some good play from Jonty Ogilvie and Andy Campbell.

After tea Contreras and King added 48 good opening wicket runs and TSA were looking well set to give the 203 runs that they needed to win a good go, but the game was turned on its head by Oli Beale who found himself on a hat-trick on his way to 3-41 in eight overs of leg spin and with Andy Hurry joining the attack too TSA lost five wickets for just three runs.

The arrival at the crease of German, who would be the match winner for TSA later on, and S.Hockey saw TSA recover somewhat, but Wellington kept chipping away as Andy Hurry took 3-13 in eight fine overs of medium pace, Des Campbell followed up his ‘four fer’ the week before with 1-49 in eight overs and when Jacob Hurry as wicket keeper held on to one from Parsons, who made 22, off of Richard Henwood TSA were 177-8 and still chasing matters…

Ryan Henwood’s better second spell also contributed to Wellington’s effort in the field against the top side and when R.Hockey was run out through good work from Andy Campbell, Richard Henwood and Jacob Hurry it was one wicket to go for victory for Wellington.

David Derrick, having come in close to put pressure on last TSA man N.Yarde, reacted well to his firm push in the penultimate over and tried for another run out, but he had got back into his crease and so TSA came into the last over needing ten to win with German on strike and he was equal to the task as he hit three fours in four balls to end on 89no and send Wellington home empty handed as such, but with a decent enough haul of 19 points.