Shrubbery Hotel Somerset League
Division 4
Lympsham & Belvedere 212-3 beat Wembdon 176-9 by 36 runs

LYMPSHAM & Belvedere travelled to Wembdon and, having lost the toss, were asked to bat first on a blustery afternoon.

Mike Hosey and Samuel McCrea got off to a positive start until the latter cut a short ball to point with the score on 39.

That brought Jack Luff to the crease, and the score continued to build steadily against accurate bowling on a pitch lacking pace.

Hosey (18) fell to the impressive D Watts with the score on 75, but Dave Luff joined Jack, who continued his good form by hitting regular boundaries to all areas of the ground.

The pair put on 124 before Jack Luff fell to M Watts for a fine 91 that included 12 fours and a six.

Dave Luff pushed the score beyond the 200 mark as Lympsham & Belvedere finished on a competitive 212-3.

In reply, D Watts made 18 before hitting a drive to Jack Luff at cover off CJ Neate (2-26) to get the early breakthrough.

Neil Chadwick (1-24) then removed S Pigden lbw, and Jack Neville (1-33) removed the obdurate K Hicks, leaving Wembdon at 86-3 in the 27th over.

The pressure was beginning to tell on Wembdon as Hosey and McCrea ran out T Miller and A Hold in successive overs, with the hosts finishing on 176-9.

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HUNTSPILL & District were narrowly beaten by three wickets at South Petherton in their Division 4 encounter on Saturday.

Several Huntspill batsmen made starts, but no-one was able to top Mark Crawford’s 27 as they stumbled to 135 all out.

Tom Garner (2-19) and Sam Lillycrop (2-31) impressed with the ball in reply, but South Petherton reached 136-7 with two overs to spare.

East Huntspill made a nightmare start to their Division 6N match with Leigh on Mendip, losing their top three batsmen for ducks.

It was left to Kev Butt (37) and Matt Mitchell (72) to salvage the situation, which they did with great success as they led East Huntspill to 141-8.

Ned Harding then took 4-11 as the visitors collapsed after a good start and fell to 98 all out.

Wedmore edged past Shapwick & Polden 3rds by nine runs.

Openers Billy Halford (26) and Josh Burgess (31) were the primary contributors to Wedmore’s 153 all out, a total they were able to defend thanks to economical bowling across the board.

Ian Harris (2-27), Martyn Boley (2-15) and Sam Blackburn (2-23) each chipped away with the ball and, though Shapwick had wickets in hand, they came up short on 144-8.

Burnham 2nds were well beaten by 128 runs at Weston-super-Mare 3rds.

Dan Press hit an unbeaten 107 as Weston racked up 255-5, a total they comfortably defended as Burnham were limited to 127-6 in reply despite Andy Ashfold’s 34.

A century from Daniel Tippetts helped Huntspill & District 2nds past Harptree Villages in Division 7N.

Tippetts finished on 110 not out, with Ryan Edwards unbeaten on 58, as Huntspill made 228-2 from their 40 overs.

Paul Maxwell then took 3-25 in reply as Harptree were restricted to 143-8.

Struggling Mark suffered a disappointing defeat at the hands of bottom club Wells 2nds.

M. Corrick top scored with 35 in Mark’s 155 all out, which Wells passed for the loss of six wickets.

In Division 8N, Lympsham & Belvedere 2nds picked up an easy 35 points as opponents Cranmore 2nds failed to raise a team, meaning Lympsham maintained their healthy advantage at the top of the table.

There was also no play in the match between Wedmore 2nds and Bridgwater Sports, both of whom have been struggling to field full sides throughout the season to date.

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EAST Huntspill lost their grip on top spot in Division 4 of the West Somerset Cricket League after their defeat at Roadwater 2nds on Saturday.

Roadwater batted first and made 154-5, with L. Johnson-Smith hitting an unbeaten 65 and P. Cox adding 38.

East Huntspill’s reply never got going and they were bowled out for just 98, with Roadwater’s M. Bolland doing most of the damage with 5-32.

They were leapfrogged at the top by Stoke Saints, who overcame Kilve by 123 runs.

C. Lovell (52) and T. White (48) batted well as the hosts made 167-8.

Kilve were then torn apart by Matt Lovell, who continued his fine season with 6-14 to help skittle the visitors for 44.

North Newton were also defeated, slipping to a 51-run defeat at the hands of Wiveliscombe 2nds.

W. Marchant top-scored with 67 as North Newton made a decent fist of chasing Wivelisombe’s 216-8, which was dominated by C. Ward’s 86, but the visitors came up short.

This weekend, East Huntspill face Kilve, with the former’s title rivals Stoke Saints on the road to Buckland St Mary.

North Newton, who sit third from bottom, host West Monkton 2nds.