WATCHET suffered their first defeat of the season away to Taunton Civil Service by 81 runs on Saturday.
Civil Service struggled on a poorly prepared wicket as Dave Milton, Andy Pyne and Martin Strong took three wickets each to reduce the home team to 142 all out. Phillip Hill top scored with 44.
After tea Watchet's weakened batting lineup had no answer to Ashley Dingle who took 6-22 whilst Andy Mason bowled quick to take 3-26.
Only Richard Milton and Liam Woolgrove made double figures as the league leaders took a hiding by 81 runs.
Taunton Civil Service: 142 (P Hill 44, M Taylor 20, A Pyne 3-13, M Strong 3-13, D Milton 3-38).
Watchet: 61 (A Dingle 6-22, A Mason 3-26).
Points: Taunton Civil Service 23 Watchet 5.
l Needing a victory to keep themselves in a commanding position, Watchet could only manage a winning draw at home to Mark on Sunday.
Batting first Watchet made their highest score of the season of 227-9 from their allotted 45 overs.
Batting conditions were far easier than the day before as runs came quickly. Rob Yaw (22) and Andrew Woodward (36) put on 58 for the first wicket.
Martin Strong and Scott Milton put on 65 for the fourth wicket before Strong was caught on the boundary for 64, which was his fifth half century of the season.
Late in the innings David Milton (31) and Peter Manley (22) kept up with the high run rate which enabled Watchet to pass the 200 mark with ease.
Tim Graham bowled a good line and deserved his 5 wickets for 60 runs in 15 overs.
Mark had made six changes to their side which had played Watchet earlier in the season, one of them being a young very talented Indian called Sanjam Ranjan, who was by far the best batsman seen at the Memorial Ground this season and single handedly took on Watchet's bowlers.
Captain Clive Strong started to set deep field placings against Ranjan which stopped his flow of boundaries and in the 36th over Norman Yaw (3-50) bowled him for 96 out of a total of 140 runs.
Mark then played out for a draw finishing on 169-7, a fair result in a game which Watchet needed to win.
Watchet: 227-9 (M Strong 64, A Woodward 36, D Milton 31, P Manley 22, T Graham 5-63).
Mark: 169-7 (S Ranjan 96, T Graham 24 no, N Yaw 3-50).
Points: Watchet 17 Mark 11.