Division One

Stoodleigh v Over Stowey

OVER Stowey are battling hard to get away from the bottom of the table and their determination showed at home on Saturday with a 7 run victory over Stoodleigh.

Stowey were invited to bat on a damp wicket and although losing a quick wicket Dave Richardson (27) and skipper Paul Rich (32) scored well in their first wicket partnership making a reasonable total possible.

However Stoodleigh's E Mock had other ideas and he came on and claimed 6-43, with the assistance of keeper R Turnbull who had three stumpings and a catch, and it was only a last wicket partnership of 20 between Steve Easden and Richard Duddridge which lifted the home side's total to 139 all out.

Stoodleigh struggled early on in their reply against the bowling of Rich and Easden but still looked to be in with a chance of victory.

However, the introduction of Gary Thomas turned things in the home side's favour as he took wickets at vital stages and finished with his best performance for Stowey, 7-30 off 11 overs and Stoodleigh were dismissed for 132 with S Andrews their top scorer with 33.

It was a well deserved victor for Stowey with their fielding going a long way to the victory.

Over Stowey: 139 (P Rich 32, D Richardson 27, S Easden 16, E Mock 6-23).

Stoodleigh: 132 (S Andrews 33, J Cridland 22, G Rowe 18, S Carey 18, G Thomas 7-30, S Easden 2-40).

Points: Over Stowey 25 Stoodleigh 9.

Buckland St Mary v

Timberscombe

PLAYED on a damp wicket, this game between Buckland St Mary and Timberscombe had the makings of a tight fixture, and so it proved as the visitors won by just three wickets.

With rain falling just before the start Timberscombe won the toss and asked the home side to bat. Buckland made a steady start and after losing two wickets for 20 runs, S Mills (27) and K Reed produced a stand of 50 runs. With the demise of Mills wickets then fell at regular intervals to leave a respectable score of 125 on such a wet pitch.

Gary Thorpe's 4-31 did the early damage and Keith Graddon's 3-11 (off 10 overs) polished off the innings at the end.

In reply captain Paul Sparks was in fine form scoring 38 out of an opening stand of 52. Wickets also then fell at regular intervals but some belligerent hitting from Ian Snell, Keith Graddon and Paul Keal kept Timberscombe well up with the run rate. Finally Trevor Howard hit the winning six to gain the final batting point.

M Knight (2-42) bowled tightly for the home side with little help from the rest of the team.

Buckland St Mary: 125 (K Reed 39, S Mills 27, G Thorpe 4-32, K Graddon 3-11).

Timberscombe: 131-7 (P Sparks 38, P Keal 26, K Graddon 20, M Knight 2-24).

Points: Timberscombe 26 Buckland St Mary 6.

Trull v Brompton Ralph

ON a track which saw 170 runs scored and 17 wickets fall, Brompton came out on top against home side Trull by three wickets on Saturday.

Trull batted first and found the going difficult with C Welch (5-20) causing them problems.

N Grubb top scored for Trull with 23 but with no-one else lasting long and K Piper claiming three wickets they were all out for 88.

Brompton also found runs at a premium and with wickets falling regularly the result of the game was in the balance.

But K Piper batted resolutely enough to swing the game in his side's favour and he was still there when the winning runs were score, Piper on 24 no.

Trull: 88 (N Grubb 23, C Welch 5-20, K Piper 3-16).

Brompton Ralph: 92-7 (K Piper 24 no, G Fitt 21, T Gill 20, W Bates 4-25, N Grubb 2-24).

Points: Trull 4 Brompton Ralph 24.

Division Three

Timberscombe II v Morebath

MOREBATH always had the upper hand in this Division 3 game away at Timberscombe II and eventually won by eight wickets.

The home side batted first and their disappointing total of 89 relied almost entirely on Phil Hayes and Royston Ball who scored 31 and 28 respectively. The paucity of the other contributions was reflected in the fact that the next highest score was 3.

Morebath's quartet of bowlers must take credit for making good use of the drying conditions and they shared with wickets with Brian Boundy taking three and Fisher, King and Foxford taking two each.

When Morebath replied Timberscombe needed early wickets, but they did not come, as the visitor's openers Steve Kelland and Phil Venn compiled a stand of 80 and seemed to be cruising to a ten wicket win until Joseph Smith dismissed them both for 45 and 25. But it was 'too little too late' as victory was duly secured without further mishap.

Timberscombe II: 89 (P Hayes 31, R Ball 28, B Boundy 3-20, D King 2-14, A Foxford 2-22, S Fisher 2-27).

Morebath: 90-2 (S Kelland 45, P Venn 25, J Smith 2-13).

Points: Timberscombe II 2 Morebath 26.

West Monkton v Carhampton

IN a high scoring game between West Monkton and Carhampton it was the home side who hit the highest score, 84 more than their visitors.

West Monkton got off to a tremendous start with D Pacher (91) and N Holley (70) putting on 131 for the first wicket.

Despite some good bowling from Roger Bowkett (3-74) and Dan Gaydon, West Monkton amassed the big score of 260-5.

Chasing such a big score was always going to be difficult for Carhampton and at the 20 over stage they had reached 89-5 with Chris Milton hitting 42.

The tail wagged for Carhampton with Peter Sherring hitting 35 and Andrew Baker 24 no, enough for Carhampton to finish on a respectable 176-9, but not good enough to win.

West Monkton: 260-5 (D Pacher 91, N Holley 70, A Clements 35, R Bowkett 3-74, C Hirons 2-78).

Carhampton: 176-9 (C Milton 42, P Sherring 35, A Baker 24 no).

Points: West Monkton 25 Carhampton 7.

Division Four

Stogumber II v Spaxton

WITH a slump in form lately taking them into a relegation battle, victory over one of the two sides below them, Spaxton, became vital when the teams met on Saturday. This they achieved emphatically when they won by nine wickets over a sporting side.

Because of rain in the morning the match was played on the artificial wicket. The visitors deciding to bat first when they won the toss and made a solid start reaching 37 before losing their first wicket. But from then on wickets fell steadily with Ian Ware once again putting the ball in the right places, bowling his 12 overs and finishing with 4-27.

James Weetch supported him well finishing with 3-26 and debutant Nick Bennett took two wickets.

Opener A Fisher top scored for Spaxton with 22 with the final total reaching 108, nine of the wickets to fall being bowled.

Stogumber's opener Daniel Barnes once again showed he was in good form and soon had the scoreboard moving.

Solid support from veteran Taffy Jenkins helped take the partnership to 90 before he was run out for 22 and soon after the winning runs were hit with Barnes not out on 52. Extras helped Stogumber especially in one over when 13 runs came off three balls.

Spaxton: 108 (A Fisher 22, Thomas 16, N Peak 15, R O'Brian 15, I Ware 4-27, J Weetch 3-26, N Bennett 2-47).

Stogumber: 109-1 (D Barnes 52 no, T Jenkins 22).

Points: Stogumber 26 Spaxton 2.

Brompton Ralph II v

Stoke St Mary

STOKE St Mary's total didn't appear to be enough when they visited Brompton Ralph II on Saturday, and so it proved with the home side winning by eight wickets.

Stoke had P Gardener batting well, reaching his fifty before being dismissed. M Walker gave him some assistance but there was very little else forthcoming and the visitors were all out for 119.

A Gilbert and A Price split six of the wickets to fall between themselves for Brompton.

The home side had no trouble in knocking off the required runs, S Ridler and N Prince both scoring half centuries.

Their final total was 120-2 with N Penny claiming both wickets.

Stoke St Mary: 119 (P Gardner 50, M Walker 26, A Gilbert 3-17, A Price 3-28, D Hill 2-31).

Brompton Ralph II: 120-2 (S Ridler 59, N Prince 50, N Penny 2-27).

Points: Brompton Ralph II 26 Stoke St Mary 4.

Division Five

Minehead A v

Brompton Ralph III

MINEHEAD A were hosts to Brompton Ralph III on Saturday and in a close finish the home side won by 12 runs, their third win in succession.

Minehead batted first on a drying wicket and I Bowditch batted well to reach his half century and then be dismissed. J Humey also had a good knock being out when his score had reached 37.

Minehead scored 152-8 and the pick of the Brompton bowlers was P Hayes who finished with 4-44.

Brompton's reply relied mainly on the innings of P Hayes but on his dismissal no-one was able to lift the innings enough to reach the required rate and they were eventually dismissed for 140.

Bowditch again caused problems to the visitors, this time with the ball, finishing with the figures of 4-20.

Minehead A: 152-8 (I Bowditch 50, J Humey 37, P Hayes 4-44, A Poole 2-33).

Brompton Ralph: 140 (P Hayes 67, I Bowditch 4-20, D Veale 3-42).

Points: Minehead A 26 Brompton Ralph III 8.

Hinkley Point Cup

Dulverton v Brompton Ralph II

DULVERTON moved into the final of the Hinkley Point KO Cup on Monday evening with an easy 93 run victory over Brompton Ralph II.

Dulverton batted first with some useful knocks down the order helping them set up a final total of 146-7. M Drewer top scored with 37 and C Hooper hit 29.

Brompton's Dave Summerside was the best of the visitor's bowlers finishing with 3-34.

Brompton innings never got going, only B Butcher showing any form with 27.

Dulverton's bowlers once again knew where to put the ball with D Stone, R Irwin and C Lewington all taking three wickets as Brompton finished on 53-9.

Dulverton: 146-7 (M Drewer 37, C Hooper 29, C Jarret 15, D STone 15, D Summerside 3-34).

Brompton Ralph III: 53-9 (B Butcher 27, D Stone 3-2, R Irwin 3-21, C Lewington 3-21).