Wellington 2nd XI got their promotion charge out of Division Two of the Somerset League Reserves competition back on track with this 62 run away win over Taunton 3rd XI in a match that saw them claim 34 points, complete the double over their neighbours and at the same time compounded the relegation fears of the county town team.
Wellington were asked to bat first and with rain about throughout the game (although no interruption was ever actually suffered) this was the course that Bob Trott would have pursued, so Wellington were content as Phil Nicholls and Julian Jones took to the crease to open up.
Jones was in blistering form as he hit Maber out of the attack as the fast bowled conceded 28 runs from his three overs – Jones hit the short wide ball to the boundary and then hit over the top for a big six. He was the dominant partner as he brought up his fifty in good time.
Nicholls gave him good support at the other end.
When Nicholls was adjudged to have feathered a ball behind Richard Short joined Jones and they brought up the Wellington hundred and the Red and Blacks second string were looking for a score of well in excess of 200.
But the introduction of Wayne Hitchcott – who plays his football for Wellington – into the attack with his mix of left-arm orthodox spin and seamers off a short run caused a collapse in the Wellington middle order as the score declined from 102-1 to 144-9 and this had undone the good work that had been done earlier. Julian Jones was LBW for 64 and Short was bowled for 28 as Hitchcott took 6-35 in 12 overs
As there were a lot of overs left to bat as well this compounded Wellington’s predicament, but they found salvation in the form of last wicket pair Martin Short and Richard Henwood who added an unbroken 44 runs that raised the score from 144-9 to the final 188-9.
Henwood played the lead role from number eleven and made a pleasant 30no and Short played a great supporting hand of 11no as Taunton could not find a way to split them up.
These runs were vital, but the final total of 188-9 was some way short of what it should have been.

Wellington got a great start to their time in the field when Martin Short got one to rear up and catch Taunton keeper Dalling all at sea, presenting Rob Hunt with a simple catch at square leg.
Pattemore and Manley settled their side down with a second wicket stand of 34, but the first of three top catches for Andy Mitchell saw the back of Pattemore for 21. This was Adrian Lee’s first of three vital wickets, in a fine spell of 12 overs that went for only 30 runs.
Taunton lost their way as Martin Short was doing the same at the other end, also taking 3 wickets in a tight 12 over spell that only cost 28 runs.
The required rate was rising and the home side were losing wickets as well. Wayne Hitchcott with a feisty 20 threatened to launch an assault that could have taken Taunton out of danger, but he was another of Andy Mitchell’s catches and was an important wicket to get. Mitchell joined the attack and bowled Manley for 32 and that was all but the end of Taunton’s resistance.
Richard Henwood rejoined the attack and bowled some tight overs at the death that saw that the required rate was rising all the time and when Bob Trott joined the attack late on to prise out the tail, he ensured that ten bowling points came his team’s way by taking 3-6 as Taunton 3rd XI were all out for 126 with an over to go.
Wellington’s bowling was back to it’s accurate best after the poor show the week before against Wembdon and, together with the electric fielding display (well most of the time!) on offer as well, went a long way to securing this victory.

With Butleigh 2nd XI being frustrated by the weather and only getting a draw with North Perrott 2nd XI, Wellington are seven points ahead of the promotion rivals and meet tham at home on the last day of the season for what could be the decider.

Before that Wellington 2nd XI travel to Ilton to play a team who are already relegated and they will want to ensure that they collect a good points haul from this match so as to ensure that the Butleigh match is as comfortable as it can be.