Wellington 3rd XI were met with a grey and windy proposition when they travelled to Stoke St Gregory in Division Seven Red of the Somerset League last weekend and were not able to capitalise on their opening day win as they went down by seven wickets collecting nine points for their efforts.

A toss that would have been good to have won was lost, but Richard Henwood and James Brackenbury added 52 good first wicket runs with skipper Henwood making 24 before being trapped LBW by his opposite number Sollis (2-22 in eight).

This started a collapse that included the wicket of keeper Brackenbury for 36 and at 74-7 Wellington’s third string were in a spot of bother, but debut runs from Marc Bright with 12 and later efforts from Tyler Fyfe with 12 and Connor Wickenden with 13no bolstered the Red and Blacks score to 120 all out in 36.4 overs with Dare taking 5-16 in eight overs of brisk medium pace.

It was never going to be easy for Stoke to make the total, but Sollis, fresh from 125no at Ilminster the week before, showed that he is their key man with a knock of 60 as he anchored the home team’s reply until he was out LBW to Cam Sentance with under ten needed.

Richard Henwood with 2-12 in eight overs with the new ball was exemplary for Wellington.