WATCHET played host to Middlezoy in their first-ever league meeting on Saturday but, after avoiding defeat the previous week, normal service was resumed as they went down by 63 runs.

They put the visitors in and a switch in their opening attack which saw the unlikely combination of Chris Sully and Ryan Dellow take the new ball bore fruit quickly as opener Keith gave Jason Strong a catch off Sully inside seven overs.

With runs at a premium, the usual opening attack of Dominic Bowden and Liam Woolgrove were brought on and Bowden claimed a vital first scalp of the season as he had Nathan Barnard, the visitor's top batsman, caught at slip by acting skipper Clive Strong.

Woolgrove took three wickets inside five overs, the first a fine diving catch behind by Adam Bishop, and Middlezoy were reduced to 88-5 with the overs running out.

However, after a rain break at that stage, opener Troman, who had taken 33 overs for his 48 runs, seized the initiative from the first ball of the restart and with singles which had previously not been contemplated being taken, 77 runs were added off the last 11 overs.

Troman was unbeaten on 79 as Middlezoy made 168-9, but the final over did give Watchet some consolation as Matt Lovell bowled Snell and Tilling with successive balls and saw Wilkins sky the hat-trick ball to the safe hands of Woolgrove.

Watchet's reply started in familiar fashion with four wickets going down before ten overs had been bowled as Barnard threatened a hat-trick of his own.

The only resistance came from Lovell as Tilling tore apart the batting with 5-21.

The farce of Woolgrove being bowled on the seventh ball of an over and over still not being called summed up the home side's day, if not their season.

But eccentric umpiring couldn't mask Watchet's batting shortcomings, with no one seeming able or willing to play the type of innings Troman had produced in giving his side something to bowl at.

Middlezoy: 168-9 (M Troman 79no, H Robberts 30, L Woolgrove 3-30, M Lovell 3-32, C Sully 2-50).

Watchet: 105 (M Lovell 24, L Woolgrove 19, P Tilling 5-21, N Barnard 3-28).

l Rain brought an early end to Stogumber's Division Two match at home to Wells.

The home side made 255-9 and Wells were on 178-6 when play was stopped.

Stogumber picked up 28 points and Wells 29.