Despite conceding a league double for the second week Wellington 2nd XI actually rose one place in Division Two of the Somerset League’s Reserves competition due to Butleigh 2nd XI losing at home to Taunton 3rd XI. Wellington are one point ahead of Butleigh and these teams meet in the last game of the season.
It was a case of not using the advantage that was secured by winning the toss and asking Wembdon to bat that cost Wellington dear in the long run for the Red and Blacks second string conceded a massive 48 extras of which 21 were wides and this is simply too many at any level of the game.
Wembdon cashed in on this waywardness and had 119 on the board after 20 overs as Jenkins in particular with 60 flayed the short ball to all parts.
Wellington did pull things back to a degree later on and the fact that they secured nine out of a possible ten bowling points was of some comfort.
Simon Rudd with 2-28 in 10 overs and the slower tempo of Bob Trott (3-55) and Chris Rudd (3-21) put the breaks on Wembdon as a position of 171-2 in 33 overs only realised another 59 runs in the last 12 overs, so good work was done in the latter part of the innings, but the poor start was what was to blame for the visitors making 230-9 in 45 overs.

Phil Nicholls and Julian Jones added 22 for the opening wicket, but this became 22-3 and Wellington were in serious trouble.
Matt Colman and Dave Hewitt got the score up to over 50 before Hewitt was bowled for 17, this brought Rob Hunt to the crease and he and Colman added 79 fifth wicket runs that gave Wellington a real place back in the game. They made 44 and 42 respectively and had either or both gone on then Wellington would surely have won, built the innings gave way again so as to be 174 when the last pair of Martin Short and Bob Trott came together and they added a spirited 33 runs for the last Wellington wicket that at least meant that full batting points were gained, thus giving Wellington 19 points to Wembdon’s 34.

Wellington 2nd XI will look back on this game as one that was lost due to the nature of the early bowling that was delivered and they know that next week at Taunton will not be an easy match as the county town club are staring relegation in the face and will not want to concede a double to their near neighbours.

The match ball for this fixture was sponsored by Wade & Perry (01823 480268) and the club are very grateful to them for their input in this respect.