Wellington won when it mattered most and this fine fifty run win over Temple Cloud in Division One of the Somerset League raised the Red and Blacks two places to seventh in the table and they now have their destiny in their own hands with two matches to go. The side hold a fifteen point advantage over Staplegrove and a three point one over Temple Cloud and a visit to champions-elect Ilton and a home match with North Petherton are the games left and there is still work to do, but the team will be in good spirit for the games ahead after this vital win.

Temple Cloud put Wellington into bat and Paul Short and Thom Trott put 34 on the board for the home side as they took advantage of some loose Cloud bowling, but the Bristol based side – who won Division Two last season – came back into the game with both openers been snared for 12 and 22 respectively.

Rob Moysey with 17 played a solid knock before S.Curtis with 2-36 in 12 overs and M.Hamblin with 5-26 in 12 set about Wellington’s middle order as only Aks Latifi with 14 made an impact and at 125-9 with seven overs to go the batting frailty that Wellington has displayed at times this season seemed to be back at the wrong time, but Mark Salter with a fine counterattacking 45no and Adrian Lee with 11no added 42 runs for the last wicket and this was more than vital! Salter hit four fours and a six in his fine innings and Lee played with freedom to take Wellington to 167-9 at tea.

Temple Cloud never truly got going as Wellington took wickets regularly as seam and spin did the job for the Red and Blacks. Rowan Varkevisser and James Brown  removed the top three Cloud batsmen in taking 2-21 and 1-26 and then spin did the trick for Wellington as Rob Moysey claimed 3-23 in 12 overs and Paul Short 4-40 in 10.2 as Temple Cloud were bundled out for 117 with over ten overs left.

Wellington caught well too and this aided matters greatly and with the 33 points gained going a long way to giving the team an excellent chance of surviving at this level which is a must.

Ilton’s 162 run win over Staplegrove will act as a warning to Wellington as they chase the safety limit of points – whatever that may be – but the team now have a great chance of safety and they must take it.

Temple Cloud face a home match with bottom side North Newton and end with a match at Ilton while Staplegrove host Purnells and visit North Newton.