WITH very little pre-season practice possible due to the British weather. Wembdon first XI went into their opening fixture versus Frome with very little practice on the turf. 

The same can no doubt be said for Frome.

Wembdon skipper Jon Brockwell, embarking on his sixth campaign as captain, won the toss and elected to bowl first.

He took the new ball with Brendan Pope, and it was Pope who got the breakthrough in the second over having P. Sanger caught at first slip by Bingham.

Pope struck again in his second over and a third time in his third over clean bowling Lewis and Padgett to rip through the Frome top order.

Pope's opening spell (three for ten) was replaced by the clubs new overseas pro Lohan De Zoysa. 

The Sri Lankan slow left arm started with a maiden and followed up with three wicket maidens. 

De Zoysa had three wickets for just the one run. 

He then made it four wickets in six overs having bowled Watts and Smith, and having trapped Veal LBW, and S. Croker stumped, with great quick hands by Lowe behind the stumps.

With regular wickets, Frome had no opportunity to accumulate a total.

Brockwell, having bowled ten overs straight through, was unfortunate to be wicketless, but returned three maidens and conceded only 17 runs in ten overs.

He was replaced by Bingham, who managed to remove Potter in his first over, Puddy taking a decent catch at first slip.

This left Frome 35 for eight at drinks.  Some resistance was offered by M. Sanger and Harman who occupied the crease for nine overs before Pope replaced De Zoysa. 

De Zoysa had taken four wickets for just nine runs on league debut.  

Pope then struck, having Harman caught for a top score of 12 and in the following over Bingham claimed the final wicket when M. Sanger gloved the ball to Lowe behind the stumps.

Frome were dismissed for 55 with Pope and De Zoysa claiming four wickets each.

After tea was taken it was Harry Everett and Will Anning who opened the batting. 

The pair began watchfully successfully getting through the first seven overs for 15 runs, Watts for Frome beginning with three consecutive maidens.

Cox was then replaced by Harman and he struck with his fifth delivery trapping Everett LBW for one.

The new man in was Puddy, and the pair took Wembdon to within one strike of victory. 

A short delivery by Harman was pulled to the leg side boundary by Puddy, but picked out Sanger to be dismissed for 15 with the score on 49.

Wembdon didn't have to wait too long for victory with Anning striking a four to accompany the three previous boundaries to win the game. 

Anning finished 30 not out, De Zoysa four not out, victory by eight wickets inside 15 overs and the game wrapped up by 4pm.

There will be much harder challenges to come but Wembdon are very happy to be up and running for 2024. 

The first XI will be on the road next Saturday with a trip to Minehead before being away to Stapleton on Sunday in the National Village Cup.