SHAPWICK & Polden moved a step closer to the WEPL Somerset Division title, after beating rivals Wembdon by 64 runs on Saturday.

The hosts won the toss and elected to bowl under overcast skies at The Green, with Brendan Pope and Jonathan Brockwell making life difficult for the Shapwick openers early on.

When Pope pulled up injured, Harry Woolway came in and promptly dismissed Sam Edmunds (19).

Jack Rich then accounted for Will Mason (19) and Oskar White (22), and when Woolway (2-38) had Wayne Spencer (3) caught, the visitors had lost three wickets for nine runs, slipping to 72-4.

But the failure to catch Rob Hill after he got a leading edge when on one was to prove costly, as he and Callum Harvey (18) added 50 for the fifth wicket.

Hill went on to add 70 for the sixth wicket with Josh Luckins (14), before Sam Puddy (2-54) finally trapped Hill lbw, after he had scored 97.

Rich (4-35) returned to help dismiss Shapwick for 243, with James Haggett contributing 20.

Wembdon made a horrendous start, losing their top three batsmen for six runs between them, as James Hayman claimed 2-11.

Brockwell (52) fought back well, alongside Puddy (27) and Rob Dickins (25*), but Harvey (4-41) tore through the middle order, reducing Wembdon to 115-7.

While Dickins stood firm, White (3-22) cleaned up the tail to dismiss the hosts for 179.

Shapwick are now 30 points clear of second-placed Minehead (who lost to Chard), with Wembdon fourth.

This Saturday sees Shapwick host Minehead and Wembdon travel to Taunton Deane 2nds (12.30pm).