THE Somerset age group sides got off to a flying start last weekend when the Under 11s, 12s and 15s all won their matches in style.

The Under-11s travelled to Bryanston School to face Dorset who won the toss and decided to bat first on a good wicket.

Somerset started in the best possible way by bowling Dorset out for 124 in 38 overs with excellent figures for Kieran Tasker (4-11) and Ollie Meadows (3-19).

There was also some good back up from the other bowlers and some excellent wicket keeping from Ewan Yates with two stumpings to set the tone.

Somerset made light work of knocking the runs off in 23.5 overs for the loss of three wickets. Will Hall (26), Will Smeed 34 and Will Scott-Munden 18 not out being the main runs scorers.

The Somerset Under-12s enjoyed their opening success when they beat local rivals Gloucestershire at Cleeve Cricket Club.

Gloucestershire won the toss and after choosing to bat first were reduced to 60-7 by some accurate bowling from the Somerset seamers.

However a spirited rear guard action from the lower order saw Gloucester recover to reach a respectable 122 all out.

The pick of the bowlers for Somerset were Sam Parsons with 4-21, Ben Clarke (2-8) and Harvey Morland (2-35).

In reply Somerset reached 123-4, Will Smeed (23), Max Toohey (40) and Jack Press (41 not) all contributing to a very impressive all-round team performance.

Somerset Under-15s completed the hat-trick when they recorded a convincing win over their Cornwall counterparts at Helston Cricket Club.

Somerset’s new ball bowlers Luke Hammond and Sam Hedges sharing the new ball to great effect and made full use of the cloudy overcast conditions.

Hammond made an early breakthrough, finding the outside edge of the Cornwall opener, which was taken well by Fin Trenouth behind the stumps.

A second wicket came a few overs later as Hammond finished his first spell with figures of 2-12.

The momentum was firmly with Somerset as Louie Shaw and James Clark began a demonstration in spin bowling, restricting the Cornwall middle order to only 41 runs from 20 overs. Shaw bowled extremely well to end with 2-15 from his ten overs.

Although the bowling was exceptional, the fielding of the Somerset team was a little ragged and Cornwall eventually reached 175 from their 50 overs.

Somerset’s opening pair of Trenouth and Alex Eckland took to the wicket after lunch knowing that the game was theirs for the taking, and went about the task with a mix of mature shot playing and clever running.

They used the first batting power-play well, scoring efficiently, and put on 66 runs in 11 overs before Eckland played at a good ball and was bowled for 30.

Tom Rowland fell cheaply, bringing Benedict Gundry to the crease to join Trenouth who had settled well and raced to his 50 in just 50 balls.

Gundry played a captain’s innings, steadying things as the pair built a strong partnership that never looked troubled by the bowling attack.

Trenouth continued to play the bad balls well, pushing the Somerset total past the 150 mark as he reached passed 80. Trenouth then sent a huge 6 over midwicket to send the crowd running for cover.

The pair exchanged singles, rotating the strike well, leaving Trenouth on 98, with only two runs needed for the win and Gundry on strike.

This produced the first maiden of the Somerset innings, as he saw off six deliveries, setting up Trenouth to finish a superb innings.

That he did on the second ball of the next over, hitting a four square on the leg side.

The crowd applauded as Trenouth raised his bat, 102 not out in only 112 balls, including nine fours and two sixes.

Somerset U-15s play Hampshire at Taunton School, in two weeks’ time, and will be hoping to pick up where they left off in a great start to the season.