MINEHEAD came off second best last weekend when they travelled to play against in form side Frome in the Premier Division of the Somerset Cricket League.

At what looked a decent cricket wicket, the home side won the toss and chose to bat with openers Sanger P (34) and Watts both looking to be positive in the early exchanges.

Opening bowlers Alfie Rucklidge (0-58) and Harry Tudball (0-35) bowled with little luck as the score passed 50 in the 10th over. The introduction of spin provided a much-needed breakthrough as captain Dan Bowditch had Watts caught at mid on for 39.

New man Corbett, who struck 258* last time the sides met, looked to add to the good start as he seemed to find the boundary with ease. He progressed seamlessly to 48 off 36 before Jack Richards (1-30) induced an edge which was well caught by young keeper Jonah Hopkins.

Darren Sherring (2-61) and the returning Bowditch then controlled the middle overs as wickets fell with more regularity. Bowditch (4-45) picked up his fourth wicket when Cox was well caught, again by Richards, and Ellis Taylor (2-9) picked up the last two wickets to leave the hosts 240 all out in the final over.

The Minehead chase started badly; Freddie Wilson was dismissed third ball of the innings, without scoring., followed shortly by Hopkins (1) and Hurley (5) to leave The Pirates reeling at 20-3.

Bowditch (21) and Taylor (21) looked to rebuild but after some lusty blows, both fell in quick succession as Sanger (4-38) and Cox (2-31) grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck. A late counter attack from Lewis Goodrum (15) was in vain as Minehead were all out for 113 in the 25th over, 127 runs short of victory.

Currently Minehead sit dead centre, fifth of nine teams, in the Premier Division and will look to get back to winning ways with a trip to bottom side Castle Cary on Saturday, 21st June.

On Monday evening the Pirates played away at North Curry in the quarter final of the Mockridge Shield 20 overs a side competition.

Fielding a young side including two 15 year old debutants Sam Cobb and Harry Swann, winning the toss and batting Minehead hit 158 for seven.

Opener Darren Sherring set the scene with a quickfire 30 off 19 balls after which Bowditch with 35 off 24 balls, which included three 6s, Krishnan who made 21 and Chris James who hit 20, helped to see the visitors to a challenging total.

When the home team responded opening batter Jason Harris played the anchor role and after Rucklidge removed Wrangham he was joined by Noah Gazzard and the pair took the total onto 43 when Cobb had Gazzard caught by ‘keeper Hopkins.

Later skipper Josh Horler made a brisk 21 before being bowled by Anan Rajan which brought former Somerset ‘keeper Carl Gazzard to the crease, who after making 18 from nine balls became another victim for Hopkins, this time off Swann.

The home side looked to be closing on their target but when Harris was bowled by Rucklidge for a run a ball 56 the innings closed on 152 giving the Pirates victory by six runs.

Pick of the Minehead bowlers were Rucklidge with two for 33 and Cobb who took two for 42.