Castle defeat league leaders

UPHILL Castle entertained league leaders Bishops Lydeard and losing the toss were in the field in hot conditions.

On a slow track, Castle's opening attack of Winn and Davidson proved hard to get away and wickets soon came. An outstanding one-handed catch by Llewellyn set the home side up, sending Castle old boy Burke back to the pavilion.

First change Trego was then in the thick of it, taking wickets at regular intervals, with only the Australian Foote providing any resistance with a gritty 79. Bliss applied pressure from the other end, getting through his overs briskly and picking up two wickets in the process. Lydeard were finally bowled out for a lack-lustre 147 in the 41st over.

Uphill's reply got off to the worst start as Cooke was trapped leg before first ball. However Trego picked up the momentum with some early boundaries, before Crook bowled him for a well played 30.

After John Davidson was dismissed, Jon Lambert joined Chris Davidson at the crease. The pair put on a vital half century partnership, bringing Castle within touching distance of the target.

Davidson was eventually out trapped leg before for a well grafted 33, and Lambert was stumped for a confident 38 off the bowling of Contreras. It was left to Watts (14*) and Bliss (4*) to see Castle home in only the 28th over, winning by four wickets.

A valuable win for the castle with Sam Trego picking up the man of the match for his 30 runs and brilliant bowling figures of 5-24. Special mention for Chris Davidson for his all-round display, scoring 33 runs to add to his figures of 3-16. And finally Hayden Watts for a fine display of fielding which was greatly appreciated by the 1st team coach Nick Evans.

Castle entertain Chard on Saturday looking to keep the momentum going.

Castle 2nds visited Watchet 2nds on the hottest day of the year so far. Skipper Gary Kennedy won the toss for the third game in succession and his team were delighted when the announced that he had elected to bat on a good wicket.

Uphill's prolific opening partnership of Mark Hodder and Seb Winn took full advantage of the excellent conditions to post their second century partnership of the season.

Winn batted with his usual fluency in scoring an excellent 92, including 10 fours and a six until he was bowled at the start of the 32nd over with the score on 173 to end another 2nd XI record breaking partnership between Hodder and Winn.

Hodder continued the assault on the home attack as he dominated a partnership of 75 for the second wicket in only 11 overs with Rob Owen (18). During this partnership, Hodder brought up his century off of 113 deliveries. Hodder carried on to bat through the Uphill innings to finish with 114 not out, a performance that contained 13 fours and two sixes. The efforts of Hodder and Winn allowed Uphill to post a daunting 258- 3 from their allotted 45 overs.

Uphill were given the perfect start in defending their total by George Cox as he had home skipper P Manley caught by Craig Grabham for a duck in the third over to register Uphill's first wicket before a run had been scored. Cox (1-32) and George Kimmins (0-15) kept the pressure on Watchet as they crept up to 29 in after 12 overs.

Alex Luke junior (3-38) was then introduced into the attack and he captured the second wicket in his first over. He followed up with two more wickets as he and Matt Humphries turned the screw on Watchet.

When Humphries (10-5-22-1) deservedly took a wicket, Watchet were floundering at 54 for 5 after 23 overs.

At this stage, Uphill were confident of forcing home an emphatic victory, However, K Manley (61 not out) and Woolgrave (37) fought back in a sixth wicket partnership of 71 showed that the home side were not going to go down without a fight.

Kennedy then introduced himself into the attack and had Woolgrave caught by Humphries to end any lingering hopes of a Watchet victory.

The remaining 10 overs were all about Castle trying to take wickets to claim as many points as possible. While Manley remained unbowed, Kennedy (2-32) and Grabham (1-33), thanks to a brilliant running catch by Humphries, took a wicket apiece as Watchet closed on 178- 8 to give Uphill victory by 80 runs and 33 league points that sees them claim top spot in the league.

The Uphill man of the match for his excellent century was Mark Hodder.

Uphill Castle 3rds hosted Glastonbury A determined to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

Castle won the toss and elected to bat, but made a shaky start, Clapson (3), C Oultram (0) and Hill (15) were out cheaply leaving the team on 49-3 after 19 overs.

Charles Read then entered the fray and he took the game to Glastonbury seeing the innings home scoring a well controlled 79 not out. He was well supported by opener Kuht (28) and the middle order, T Oultram (8), Moore (16) and Froud who brought his new stick into service for the first time this season scored a magnificent 30 not out. Castle finished on creditable 200-6 after their shaky start.

Glastonbury attacked Castle's total with great purpose, openers Beal (16) and Geery (24) quickly taking the score to 40 inside 13 overs. In the 14th over two wickets fell to superb catches by Rekesius and Bail in successive balls and the tide turned.

Coincidentally, these two players dropped the first two dolly catches in the previous week's game and then to add to this pattern the next great catch was taken by Kuht, the third culprit in the previous game.

Taking this lead Castle's fielding remained superb and Glastonbury were not allowed to recover, all out for 133. Uphill's bowlers, Leech (5-1-26-0), Moore (12-2-42-4), Rekesius (6-2-14-2), T Oultram (6-0-17-1), Bail (2-0-12-0) and Froud (5.1-0-12-2) succeeded in bowling opposition out for the first time at home this season.

Castle's men of the match were Moore and Mark Hawtree, this result continues their run at the top of the table.

It was not a good day at the office for Uphill 4ths, travelling down to Wincanton to only win the toss.

Captain Mark Tanner elected to bat and Mark Carrow and Nigel Cooke opened the batting. The partnership lasted for only 19 runs, when Carrow was bowled for 14. Sam Frost then came in, putting on another 10 with Cooke until Cooke was trapped leg before..

Mark Tanner and Charlie Williams both fell to golden ducks, after their poor judgement gave Sterland his hat-trick. Adam Brown only faired slightly better, lobbing a gentle catch to cover after only six balls.

Kerry Sleeman then joined Frost and began to steady the sinking ship. After a partnership of 23, Frost was bowled for 14 and Nick Kuht, the following batsman, found it difficult to make any headway and was bowled for one.

Andre Cox was joined by Dave Kelley, when Sleeman was finally caught for 18. Kelley was caught driving and Steven Gough only lasted two balls before being bowled. With a total of 60 all out, it was going to take a fantastic achievement to win the game.

Carrow and Sleeman opened the attacl, bowling extremely tightly and Sleeman took the firstt wicket in his second over. Williams and Tanner then took over but could not make any impact. Kelley and then Frost were brought in and Frost's leg spin claimed another victim, a fine catch being taken by Carrow. But it was not enough, and in the 19th over, Wincanton hit the winning runs and Uphill only salvaged five points from the game.