Uphill Castle lost to Clevedon for the second time this season.

HOSTING local rivals Clevedon, Uphill were asked to bat and made their best start of the season.

John Davidson and veteran Gareth Williams put on 59 for the first wicket, with Davidson hitting nine boundaries in a run-a-ball 42 before he was caught behind.

Luke Bliss failed to trouble the scorers, but Lambert (18) supported Williams who was then caught for 29. At 85-3, Uphill began getting bogged down by the consistent Hancock (3-25) and wickets fell at regular intervals.

Belcher (23) and Lane (12 not out) gave the score some respectability and Bail hit the last ball of the innings for a boundary to help Uphill to 161-9, a poor effort after a good start.

Clevedon gave a faultless display in the field and took two outstanding slip catches.

With a lack of pace in the wicket, Uphill opened the bowling with the swing of Davidson and spin of Luke Bliss. This worked effectively as Clevedon crawled to 26-1 from the first 10 overs, Davidson removing Sansum caught well by Williams at first slip.

Tim Hancock was able to pick off runs with ease and after a shaky start, Hanley was able to help rotate the strike. The partnership added 67 before the introduction of Marcus Bail yielded two wickets in his first over as Hancock and Batchelor were dismissed.

Will Carpenter added a chancy 16 before Davidson returned to remove him lbw. However, with Hanley standing firm at the other end, he was able to see the innings home with a well played 65 not out.

Pick of the bowlers was Chris Davidson (12.1-1-36-2), but the man of the match went to Bail. Uphill travel to Chard this week knowing they must do more to compete if they are to climb away from the relegation zone.

? The Seconds travelled to Clevedon and gave a spirited performance, eventually losing by 24 runs.

Clevedon elected to bat first and got off to a good start before a brilliant caught and bowled by Mike Hudson got the breakthrough.

Hudson finished with 2-59 and there were wickets for Mark Patch 2-55, Chris Slocombe 1-73 and Andy Llewellyn (2-11) as Clevedon finished on 225-8.

In reply, Uphill soon lost Llewellyn and Oultram, before Mark Hodder (60) and Ian Tasker (53) put on 79 for the third wicket.

This put Uphill in a challenging position, but only Rob Owen (16) reached double figures as Castle ended on 201.

Specsavers man of the match went to Mark Hodder.