Castle victorious in top of the table clash

UPHILL Castle came out winners in the top of the table clash when they defeated Staplegrove by 55 runs and head the Somerset Division.

Staplegrove won the toss and Uphill were asked to bat. Uphill lost Andre Belcher early, but Tom Oultram and Luke Bliss took the score to 56 in 12 overs before Oultram was bowled.

Rob Tasker joined Bliss which produced 15 overs of carnage as both batsmen smashed the ball to all parts of the ground, putting together a partnership of 118 before Bliss fell 14 short of a century in an innings which contained 12 fours and three sixes.

The game dramatically changed when Sizer claimed a hat-trick dismissing Justin Goegan and Hayden Watts in successive balls and with Andy Llewellyn going for nought the following over.

Gareth Williams and Tasker and set about rebuilding the innings putting on 37 before Tasker on 79 edged one to the keeper. George Cox (17) supported Williams (28) and in another good partnership edged Uphill to a respectable 265-9, with the innings being rounded off by a massive six from Simon Webster.

Staplegrove set about chasing the Uphill score positively, getting to 66 before Bliss had Pantling adjuged lbw. Sizer and Shaw put together a solid partnership of 74, but with the pressure building and run rate increasing, Shaw holed out to Bliss.

With new batsmen coming to the crease with the rate up at eight an over, Uphill were in the driving seat. Tasker dictated terms with accurate bowling and when he had Sizer lbw for 82, the innings crumbled, apart from a flurry from Bird (25).

The re- introduction of Webster saw two wickets in an over and fittingly Tasker took his sixth wicket as Watts took a fine catch on the boundary as Staplegrove were all out for 210.

Specsavers man of the match was Tasker, who finished with 6-37.

UPHILL CASTLE

A Belcher lbw Sizer 4

L Bliss c Bird b Sizer 86

T Oultram b Jeanes 4

R Tasker c Craggs b Shaw 79

J Goegan c Rowe b Sizer 0

H Watts b Sizer 0

A Llewellyn c Hardy b Sizer 0

G Williams c Shaw b Pantling 28

G Cox st Craggs b Bird 17

S Webster not out 10

M Bail not out 1

Extras 36

Total 265

STAPLEGROVE

T Pantling lbw Bliss 27

D Sizer lbw Tasker 82

J Shaw c Bliss b Tasker 21

A Jeanes b Tasker 4

B Craggs c & b Tasker 6

G Bishop lbw Bail 0

M Bird lbw Webster 25

R Rowe b Tasker 7

J Hodges b Webster 1

P Horton not out 4

P Hardy c Watts b Tasker 1

Extras 32

Total 210

Bowling: S Webster 7-2-21-2; G Cox 3-0-19-0; L Bliss 9.5-1-45-1; M Bail 9-1-43-1; H Watts 6-0-37-0; R Tasker 9-0-37-6.

ON Sunday, Uphill crashed out of the village knockout cup when they lost to Bishops Lydeard by eight wickets.

Uphill were dismissed for 185 with another half century from Tasker. Uphill never got into the game and some loose bowling saw Lydeard race away. Keiron Ward bowled a good accurate spell, but the damage was already done with ex-Uphill player Justin Burke scoring an undefeated 50 as Lydeard past Uphill’s total on the 30th over.

THE Seconds continued their winning ways with a five wicket victory over South Petherton.

Batting first, South Petherton were in early trouble as James Holt ripped through their top order to reduce the hosts to 39-5.

White (35) led a recovery, but at 97-9, Petherton were in trouble. An undefeated stand of 74 between Williams (65 not out) and Salter (13 not out) took the home side to 171-9.

Holt was the pick of the bowlers in an inspired spell of 5-46 from 10 overs. He was well backed up by Chris Slocombe (2-26) and Mark Patch (2-36).

In reply, Uphill soon lost two early wickets, but Steve Worrall (84) and Ian Tasker (31) took the score to 135 before three quick wickets fell. Dave Bickell (12 not out) and Kieran Ward (20 not out) steered Castle home with seven overs to spare.

Specsavers man of the match was James Holt.

THE Cavaliers secured their first victory of the season against Horrington, but also their first win since the last day of the 2011 season.

Asking Horrington to bat first, Uphill’s opening attack of Andy Leech (2-10) and Pete Jobling (1-38) soon made inroads into the Horrington top order. Howe (21) and Gray (22) offered some brief resistance.

When Matt Loud bowled Gray, wickets began to fall at regular intervals and Horrington were dismissed for 117, with Loud taking 2-24 and Uphill’s skipper Gary Kennedy taking 3-18.

In reply, Uphill started positively through Ashley Doyle and Rob Latham taking 19 from the first two overs. Latham was dismissed for 14 with the score on 28, but Doyle went on to score an elegant 41.

The loss of two quick wickets put Horrington back in the game until Chris Oultram (22 not out) and Rich Fletcher (8 not out) took advantage of some loose deliveries and Uphill eased home by five wickets.

Specsavers man of the match was Ashley Doyle.

The 4th XI suffered their first defeat of the season at Banwell & Churchill by 12 runs.

Banwell batted first and with all their batsmen making contributions, they totalled 206-6, with Mike Legg top scoring with 46.

Special mention to 15-year-old Jack Biggs, who gave a fine performance behind the stumps, with two dismissals and conceding just one bye.

In reply, Uphill openers Paul Kuht and Dave Statham put on 24 for the first wicket. While most of the batsmen managed to get starts, only Kuht kept his wicket intact, carrying his bat for a very good 59 not out.

The other notable contributions came from players who have come through Uphill’s youth development scheme – Nick Kuht (17), Biggs (19) and Sam Matthews (17 not out) as Uphill finished on 191-8.