A Wellington CC Club XI took to the field on Saturday afternoon last as the first outdoor action since last September for the Club occurred at West Monkton CC – a Club whose 1st XI are making the move from the West Somerset League to the Somerset League where they will play in Division Three next year – and with a pleasing performance Arron Campbell’s team won by 101 runs as all of the protocols with respect to the game restarting ref COVID19 were observed.

Wellington won the toss and batted first and this saw Sam Whitefield and Neil Hendy open up in good style as they added 58 runs first up with Hendy making it to 21 before he was caught.

Whitefield cracked a fluent 70 with two sixes as he and Alex Sparks with 58 that had three sixes in it blunted the Monkton attack; both played with an air of quality that pleased the good number of Wellington fans who had set up a socially distanced area at the pleasant Monkton ground.

Arron Campbell with 18 made his score in good time and when the skipper was out at 197-4 it was Callum Hendy and Luke Desave with 33no and 47no that lifted Wellington to a fine total of 273-4 in 40 overs as both hit maxima.

For Monkton Martin with 2-37 in seven overs was impressive with his medium pacers.

Monkton’s openers A.Ostler and Turner had 35 on the board in five overs before Luke Desave knocked over Turner’s castle for 15 and the home never again threatened to score at the rate that they needed if they were to win.

A.Ostler made it to 47 and Anning with 26 were the main Monkton contributors, but their innings lacked the big score it needed to get anywhere near the Red and Blacks total.

Lewis Sparks with 3-22 was the leading wicket taker and there was success for each of Gus Steele, Ian Hewson, Neil Hendy and Sam Whitefield as Will Derrick and Callum Hendy took three fine outfield catches between them.

It is on to playing Kilve CC at home in another Club XI style game on Sunday 19th July and then the first of the seven game bubbles that the Club has been given based on its entry for the shortened 2020 season takes place on Saturday 25th July as the 1st XI hosts Minehead 1st XI in WEPL’s Bubble C and the 2nd XI travels to Ilton 2nd XI in the SCL’s Bubble Eleven with the 3rd XI returning in 2021 in the SCL’s Division Eight South.

Sunday 26th July sees a visit from Brompton Ralph for a friendly match that was part of the original Sunday XI schedule.