CRICKET: Defeats for Burnham-on-Sea and Huntspill & District

BURNHAM elected to bat first against title favourites Trull on Saturday.

Openers Brad House and Rob Driver made an impressive start, taking Burnham over the 50-mark before the introduction of Brian Stone turned the game in Trull’s favour.

House was Stone’s first victim for a solid 26, then Phil White and James Lovell fell in quick succession, also to Stone.

Lee Coles backed up Driver to steady the innings until skipper Driver was out to Mark Thomas two short of his half-century.

This precipitated a middle order collapse as Andy Sapey claimed two quick wickets and run-making became difficult again.

When Coles fell to Sapey for 35 that was the last of the resistance and Burnham limped to 161-9 as the overs ran out.

Stone was the pick of the Trull attack, taking 3-13 off nine, while Thomas took 2-33 in his nine.

Burnham would have to bowl well if they were to stem the flow of runs from top-of-the-table Trull.

Andy Birkett struck early on, bowling Josh Parker for 13 but that brought together Sapey and Luke Bishop.

They put Trull in a strong position despite a fine containing spell from Pete Harris which went unrewarded.

Sapey eventually went for 38 and Bishop provided the rock as Connor Lefrere claimed two wickets and Matt Dibble picked up the scalp of the dangerous Brian Stone for five.

However, Trull had enough in hand as they passed the target with five wickets and eight overs remaining, Bishop still there on 53.

Harris ended with 0-17 off nine tight overs, while Lefrere took 2-29 off seven.

The defeat sees Burnham isolated at the bottom of the table, 26 points adrift of Cheddar.

On Saturday, Burnham travel to Long Sutton.

***

Somerset League Division 4
Crewkerne 197-6 beat Huntspill & District 156 by 41 runs

THIS top-of-the-table clash saw leaders Huntspill suffer only their second defeat of the season.

Crewkerne were put in to bat and immediately laid down the foundation of a challenging total as opener Tom Briggs looked in fine form.

Sam Lillycrop was the first to make the breakthrough, dismissing Ashley Lawrence for 18, then Crewkerne stuttered as Lillycrop and Matt Counsell made further inroads.

However, Briggs was on his way to a match-winning 90 and he found a partner in Gary Fry (35) who took Crewkerne to 197-6 off their 45 overs.

Lillycrop was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2-23 off 9, while Dean Adams ended up with two wickets.

Huntspill made a disastrous start to their reply as Darren Parsons took four of the top six wickets.

Only Nick Slack (22) looked comfortable and it was left to Matt Counsell at No 7 to mount the fightback.

He found a partner in No 10 Mark Crawford and, together, they gave Huntspill faint hope.

However, Counsell was out for 40 and Crawford was left high and dry on 31 as Robert Keylock bowled Dean Adams for a valiant 12, leaving Huntspill well short.

Parsons ended with 4-37 and Keylock 3-33.

***

IT'S nip and tuck at the top of Division 5 as Wedmore battle it out with Trull 2nds and Weston 3rds for supremacy.

Wedmore kept their one-point lead with a clinical victory at home to Cranmore.

Opting to bat, Cranmore were in immediate trouble as Chris Major and Martin Boley made inroads into the top order.

As a result, only two Cranmore batsmen reached double figures with Peter White reaching 21.

The home bowlers had a fine day, Major and Boley, Ian Harris and Sam Blackburn taking two wickets apiece and Josh Burgess the other as Cranmore crumbled to 111 all out.

Wedmore openers Josh Burgess and Marcus Lee set up the victory with the bat, Lee going on to make 26.

Burgess (40no) was joined by Jack Tonkin (13) and Paul Whittaker (22no) and, together, they saw Wedmore on to 114-2 and victory.

On Saturday, they travel to Hardington & West Coker.

***

In Division 2 of the West Somerset League, East Huntspill suffered at the hands of second-placed Over Stowey as they were beaten by seven wickets.

Batting first, the Easts were bowled out for 142 as Sam Thomas took 6-38.

Over Stowey's reply was led by a fine, unbeaten 112 from Jack Rich and they coasted to victory.