UPHILL Castle got their league campaign off to a solid start with a comfortable six-wicket victory over locals rivals Winscombe.

UPHILL Castle got their league campaign off to a solid start with a comfortable six-wicket victory over locals rivals Winscombe.

Winning the toss, Castle skipper Sam Trego put the home side in to bat hoping to make use of the green conditions. After a couple of loose overs, opening bowlers Chris Davidson and Alex Winn restricted the Winscombe batsmen well. Davidson was the first to strike when opener Fraser drove to Kimmins at mid-off. This wicket was closely followed by an excellent delivery from Winn that caught the edge and was safely taken by Trego at first slip.

Two farcical run outs followed, after good work from Bail, Lambert and Winn, leaving the home side reeling at 29-5. Rob Shephard (33) dug in while David Bailey took the attack to the visitors, as Winscombe mounted a fight-back. Davidson returned to the attack and had Shephard adjudged leg before and Bailey soon followed after the introduction of Trego well caught by Davidson in the deep.

Another run-out followed before Castle quickly wrapped the innings up inside 38 overs. Davidson and Trego shared six wickets between them, and mention should could to George Kimmins who bowled well on first team debut, and to Steve Cooke who returned to the bowling line-up after a long injury lay off.

The winning target was 153 and Castle got off to a poor start as Trego went early, top edging a pull shot off the bowling of Jordan Peters. Jon Lambert joined opener Steve Cooke and the pair started well, particularly in taking quick singles. Lambert the more dominant hit early boundaries in amongst some wayward bowling from the Winscombe attack.

The partnership was worth 67 before Cooke unluckily holed out for 14, caught in the deep by Cureton. Lambert continued on and passed his half century with a brace of boundaries. With the score on 96 Lambert was caught on the boundary in similar fashion to Cooke for a well played 59. Although wicket keeper-batsman John Davidson came and went, Chris Davidson and Hayden Watts saw the visitors home. Davidson (12*) being the more watchful, while Watts was the aggressor as he hit seven boundaries to reach 43* and hit the winning runs in the 33rd over.

An excellent start for Castle who picked up 20 points and set the early pace as many sides had their league games abandoned. Man of the match went to Jon Lambert for his efforts with the bat. Coach Nick Evans will be looking for more of the same Saturday as his side entertain Butleigh.

Uphill 4th X1 comfortably defeated Banwell and Churchill by six wickets.

Being asked to bat thanks to some accurate bowling from Nick Kuht 2-16 and veteran Tim Holt (1-13) struggled to get into the game. Nick Parks, making his league debut, made an immediate impression bowling Burn with his first ball, finishing with 4-10 from five overs as. Banwell's innings closed on 101 all out.

Plummer and Davidson (30), opening for Uphill, made an excellent start putting on 85 for the first wicket in 12 overs. With rain threatening Plummer (48) perished trying to finish the job, Uphill then lost a further three wickets before passing the finish line in the 14th over.