CRICKET: Shapwick & Polden undone by Weston-super-Mare in West of England Premier League

SHAPWICK & Polden’s batting woes continued as they were humbled by a Weston side with two current and two former Somerset professionals.

Having lost the toss and being asked to bat first, Shapwick captain Stephen Tinnion fell to the last ball of the first over from the soon-to-be-retired Charl Willoughby, caught at second slip.

This set the tone for the next few hours, as Willoughby and Peter Trego combined with the new ball to reduce Shapwick to 36-5.

Sam Edmunds was trapped lbw for 8, Will Mason caught behind for 2 and John Stratton caught at second slip for 5 as both opening bowlers claimed two wickets each.

The introduction of spin led to the downfall of Wayne Spencer for 12.

Matthew Boswell (12) and Fionn Hand (23) then built the only meaningful partnership of the innings of 36, Hand looking confident against the pace of Paul van Meekeren until he misjudged a leave and the ball took his glove on the way through to ‘keeper Rob Turner.

Boswell fell soon after and the tail, despite hanging around, were unable to add any meaningful runs and the away side were 96 all out.

Willougbhy (3-22), Ashley Allen (3-19) and Trego (2-23) did the bulk of the damage.

Coppell got Shapwick off to a fine start with the ball, having Press caught by ‘keeper Boswell for 0, but Turner (50*) and Fear (26) then saw off the new ball threat of Coppell (1-11) and Hand.

Rob Travers, playing his first game of the season for the first team, bagged Fear to give the away side their only point of the day and, despite the returning Hand bowling aggressively, it was left to Allen to finish the game with a top edge for four.

Shapwick & Polden have slipped to seventh and now face vital games to finish the season to ensure safety, starting with Taunton Deane at home on Saturday.

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WEPL Somerset Division
North Perrott 240-4 beat North Petherton 201 by 39 runs

NORTH Petherton must wait to secure their Somerset Division status for next season, after falling short away to table-toppers North Perrott.

Jordan Boobyer (2-66 off 10) made an early breakthrough, removing George Retter for a first-ball duck, but Gordon Whorlow (59) and Alex Eckland (95) piled on the runs for the hosts.

Ryan Meppem (2-49 off 10) saw off Whorlow, but Perrott had 188 when Eckland fell to Boobyer.

Still the punishment came, as Jake Symes struck 57 not out (off 31 balls) and Jamie Baird 11no to set Pethy 241 to win.

Again there was an early wicket, Lewis Irish departing for a duck, but Harry Bowditch (36) and Max Trevarthan (26) rebuilt.

Meppem added 24 and Tom Williams 28, yet still the wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.

Ben Meek (44) and Paul Short (18) took their side from 130-6 to 187-7, but ultimately they ran out of steam and were all out for 201 off 47.5 overs – Eckland claiming 3-32 off 10.

This Saturday, Pethy entertain Chard (12.30pm).

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WEPL Somerset Division
Uphill Castle 128 beat Wembdon 109 by 19 runs

WEMBDON’S struggles with the bat continued as they lost a low-scoring match at Uphill Castle on Saturday.

Having won the toss and chosen to field, Wembdon were forced to be patient in their search for a breakthrough as Uphill openers Dayne Siede and Andre Belcher added 55 for the first wicket.

James Annison was the man to strike, having Siede caught by Tom Brooks for 28, and the same bowler then had number three Jermain Jones (5) caught by Brendan Pope to leave the score 74-2.

Max Sellick was then introduced into the attack and broke the stubborn resistance of Belcher, who was caught by Sam Puddy having occupied the crease for 79 balls for his 33.

Wickets tumbled after that as Uphill lost their last six wickets for 30 runs, Sellick finishing with 3-7 from seven overs and Josh Henry running through the lower order to end with 5-32 from 9.3.

The innings was wrapped up on 128 midway through the 40th over but the reply was soon in disarray.

Tom Lott, promoted to the first team after a prolific season in the seconds, fell without scoring and was followed back by Brooks (4), Puddy (0) and skipper Jon Brockwell (1) as the visitors slumped to 9-4, Siede doing the bulk of the damage with 3-15 from his 10 overs.

Jack Lowe and Daniel James-Stone led a recovery of sorts, taking the score to 41 before the latter was caught for 15.

Brendan Pope decided to take the attack to the hosts, plundering two 4s and two 6s in a quickfire 28 before he, too, was caught and it was 74-7 when Dan Bingham departed for a single.

Lowe was next to go for a patient 13 but Henry was adding useful runs to his earlier five-fer as Wembdon edged into three figures with victory still possible.

Henry made his way to 20 before becoming the fifth victim for Marcus Bail with 22 still needed, and Bail then completed the job by dismissing Sellick (7) to end with 6-35 from 8.4 overs as Wembdon were bowled out for 109 in the 38th over.

Wembdon’s defeat means there are now just 10 points between the two sides and life gets no easier on Saturday - Wembdon host second-placed Frome, who need to win themselves to keep their promotion hopes alive.