West of England Premier League
Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset
Lansdown 161-5 beat Shapwick & Polden 157 by 5 wkts

SHAPWICK & Polden came unstuck away to league leaders Lansdown on another scorching Saturday.

Visiting captain Stephen Tinnion called correctly and, opting to bat first, he was quickly into his stride, taking early boundaries off the erratic Dominic Hooper.

But it couldn’t last, as Josh Smith (3-23) had him caught in the covers for 24, and Sam Edmunds followed for a duck.

Will Mason (12), Wayne Spencer (14) and John Stratton (16) all made starts but could not push on, leaving the away side 77-5 – Reuben Poole taking 3-24.

Fionn Hand, playing his first game of the season, looked assured at the crease and was positive in his footwork, taking Shapwick to three figures before Matthew Boswell (5) chased a wide one and was caught behind.

Hand (47) found an ally in Jacques Luckins (15*) who showed guts and skill to drag Shapwick to 145-7 before Hand was undone by a yorker.

The tail was blown away by Smith and the away side knew 157 wasn’t ever quite enough runs.

The Lansdown chase started slowly with Hand (3-32) and Woolway (1-19) bowling with great discipline.

But Shapwick were unlucky with a number of inside edges and mistimed shots landing agonisingly out of reach, so the score was 98 when Spencer (1-49) had Hooper (44) trapped lbw.

Hand returned and picked up three quick wickets, giving Shapwick a glimmer of hope, but Jordan Smith’s 62no proved pivotal, leading his side to a five-wicket win.

Shapwick have no game next weekend; they travel to Ilminster in two weeks’ time.

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WEPL Somerset Division
North Petherton 160-8 beat Minehead 159 by 2 wkts

NORTH Petherton shocked title contenders Minehead on Saturday, creeping home by two wickets at Heathfield Park after bowling their visitors out for 159.

Minehead chose to bat on winning the toss, and the decision looked vindicated as they reached 46 without loss.

However, key batsman Ian Buchanan (21) was then bowled by Liam Winter (2-37 off 8.2 overs).

Freddie Wilson contributed 26 and Angus Marsh 30 to the visitors’ tally, but the in-form and dangerous batsman Alastair Harrison was restricted to 20, trapped lbw by Australian all-rounder Ryan Meppem (3-19 off 10).

Aided by the efforts of Lewis Knight (2-52 off 10) and Alistair Bunce (2-33 off 10), Meppem’s bowling saw Minehead stumble from 128-4 to 131-7.

Stephen Hayes (14) dug in, but when he was the last man out the visitors’ innings had ended on 159, from 42.2 overs.

Pethy’s reply began badly, with Paul Short (0) falling to Ellis Taylor (3-54 off eight).

However, Lewis Irish (41) and Harry Bowditch (21) led their team past 50.

A wobble of wickets saw them fall to 68-4, but Winter (26) and Tom Williams stepped up, and Robert Rexworthy added a quick-fire 22.

That took the hosts to 138-6, and although another couple of home wickets fell, Williams ended unbeaten on 36 as Pethy clinched a valuable victory in the 35th over.

The result leaves them sixth in the WEPL Somerset standings with 11 matches having been played – 24 points behind Bridgwater 2nds, and 24 points ahead of fourth-bottom side Yeovil.

This coming Saturday, North Petherton travel to face local rivals Wembdon at The Green (12.30pm start).

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WEPL Somerset Division
North Perrott 145 beat Wembdon 111 by 34 runs

SOME outstanding bowling and fielding saw Wembdon dismiss hosts North Perrott for 145 on Saturday, but their batting woes continued as they suffered another away defeat.

The visitors lost the toss and were asked to bowl first in very warm conditions.

Several early boundaries suggested that Wembdon were in for a tough time, but James Annison’s inspired spell saw George Retter’s (9) leg stump somersault out the ground and then removed Alex Eckland’s (0) off stump in the next over to leave North Perrott 28-2.

George Whorlow remained at the crease, batting in his reliable yet patient fashion, but the spin of the outstanding Josh Henry (3-14 off 10, with four maidens) accounted for Jack Henderson (8), captain Jake Symes (14) and Jamie Baird (2).

Perrott were in trouble at 100-5, and Sam Puddy then trapped Whorlow (69) lbw.

Dan Bingham’s 4.4 overs of off-spin brought four wickets, the latter three being lbws.

The hosts had lost five wickets for 13 runs, and were all out for 145 in the 45th over; Bingham ended with 4-18 off 4.4, and Annison 3-16 off seven.

The Wembdon reply began well, as good running between the wickets and the occasional boundary saw Bingham (16) and Brooks (13) move the score along to 30.

But then Perrott brought spin into the attack, and Bingham was caught at slip off Whorlow, soon to be followed by Brooks and Brockwell (0) as Lorraine Szczepanski (3-24 off 10) reduced the visitors to 30-3.

Puddy (20) and Jack Lowe (17) moved the score past 50, before the former was well caught off the bowling of Eckland (4-25 off 10).

Lowe and Brendan Pope shared a 30-run partnership, but then Pope was stumped and Lowe soon followed.

From 84-6, Henry made a solid 17 and had partners in Daniel James-Stone (4) and Sellick (2) but all fell as the run rate increased.

Wembdon lost their final four wickets for just 16 runs as they were dismissed for 111 in the 46th over.

It was yet another opportunity missed following some inspired bowling, and with teams around them winning, Wembdon need to turn things around quickly or will be looking over their shoulders.

Wembdon host North Petherton on Saturday, at The Green.

Match sponsors: E18hteen Gin & Liz Awty