Weston beat Bridgwater in their latest Premier League fixture.

WESTON 1st XI faced rivals Bridgwater in the latest round of the Globe Sports WEPL season, and got off to a dream start when Sam Trego knocked down the stumps with a direct hit to dismiss Merv Hallaran off the first ball of the innings.

Stand-in captain Michael Coles then nailed the first ball he face straight back into the hands of Tom Main, who despite a brief juggle, managed to keep hold of the ball to leave Bridgwater reeling on 3-2 off two overs.

Cal Haggett and Mitch Windsor had to effectively being the innings again, and Windsor kept the back seat as Haggett found the boundary with increasing frequency as he settled in after recovering from injury.

Just as they seemed to be building a good partnership, Tom Main (4-34) struck again to send Windsor on his way, but this only allowed for Stuart Butt to join Haggett, and despite a slow start, they cultivated the highest partnership of the Bridgwater innings.

Butt supported Haggett to a well-deserved half century before smashing one straight back into the safe hands of bowler Shabil Ahmed.

Vickery quickly settled in at the crease alongside Haggett, and raced away to 30 against the tandem bowling of Ahmed and Trego, who successfully kept runs to a minimum.

The loss of Vickery, bowled by Stringer (3-27), signalled the beginning of the end for the Bridgwater innings as only a few overs later, Haggett made his one and only mistake being caught by Andy Fear off Stringer for an almost faultless 92.

Tom Main and Ben Main then clamped down to dismiss the tail, including a peerless catch from Edd Brown at point to close the Bridgwater innings two overs early with 176 on the board.

The Weston reply started in disastrous fashion, despite Brown and Simon Green getting off to a solid start, two lbw decisions and a caught behind saw both them and Trego back in the changing rooms inside the first 10 overs, leaving Jackson Davey and Ahmed to begin the innings again.

The game appeared to be firmly in Weston’s grip, until Windsor was introduced into the attack and quickly accounted for Ahmed, who was unlucky to play the ball onto the stump for a stylish 41, and Davey who posted his second half century in as many weeks just two overs later.

Suddenly at 125-6 Gary Morgan were staring down the barrel of needing 50 to win, plenty of overs, but with the light dimming rapidly a real challenge of patience to see the team over the winning line.

Morgan (25 not out) and Stringer (24 not out), hit the winning runs with four overs to spare, and helped record an excellent victory for Weston.

The Intouch CRM man of the match was shared by the whole team.

BRIDGWATER

M Hallaran run out 0

M Coles c & b T Main 0

C Haggett c Fear b Stringer 92

M Windsor b T Main 4

S Butt c & b Ahmed 28

J Vickery b Stringer 30

I Bishop c Davey b T Main 9

C Skidmore b Stringer 0

S Clapp b T Main 2

S Standerwick c Brown b B Main 1

I Higgins not out 1

Extras 9

Total 176

Bowling: S Stringer 10-1-27-3; T Main 9.1-2-34-4; B Main 5-0-24-1; A Fear 3-0-11-0; S Ahmed 10-0-39-1; S Trego 10-038-0.

WESTON

E Brown c Standerwick b Higgins 7

S Green lbw Higgins 17

S Trego lbw Bishop 0

J Davey b Windsor 52

S Ahmed b Windsor 41

G Morgan not out 25

S Stringer not out 24

Extras 14

Total (6 wkts) 180

Bowling: I Bishop 8-0-34-1; I Higgins 9-0-30-2; C Skidmore 6.5-0-37-0; M Coles 7-1-28-0; M Windsor 8-3-19-3; C Haggett 3-1-7-0; S Clapp 6-0-19-0.

Weston’s second team continued their good start to the season with a tense five wicket victory against Bridgwater, in the process moving into third place in the league.

After losing the toss, stand-in captain Jason Neave found his charges in the field. However, quick breakthroughs from opening pair Tom Court (10-2-27-1) and Matt Humphrey (4-0-27-1) soon had Bridgwater on the back foot, a situation worsened further with the introduction of Wilf Huxtable (7-1-22-3) to the fold.

Bridgwater captain Scott Sealey (27) and Ed Habberfield (46) led a recovery, but the spin duo of Ashley Allen (13-2-39-3) and Ben Curley (11-2-32-1) kept run scoring difficult until a few lusty blows from Daniel Andison (17) and Chris Singleton (16) took their team to 158-9 from their 45 overs.

In reply, Weston got off to the worst possible start as Andy Logan, Sam Curley, Ian Wheaton and Simon Turner found themselves back in the pavilion with the score on just 19 and when Mitch Smit soon followe, Weston were in trouble.

Jason Neave and Ashley Allen set about rebuilding the innings. There followed a120-run partnership which took Weston to the brink of victory, and by the time Allen was dismissed for his maiden half century (56), it was left to Neave (56 not out) and Humphrey to push the side over the line.

Intouch CRM man of the match goes to Ashley Allen.

Weston’s third team made it three wins from three in Somerset League Division 4 with a three wicket victory against Cheddar 2nds.

After winning the toss and electing to bowl, the decision soon looked vindicated as Alex Penwill (6-2-10-1) removed Cheddar opener Freddie Mehlig. A patient partnership between Tom Humberstone (19) and Finlay Travis soon followed as the visitors struggled to get away some accurate bowling from Stu Roberts (12-5-35-0), Ricky Bissex (11-0-45-3) and Dan Lomax (7-1-20-1).

With wickets falling at regular intervals around Travis, Weston were well on top. Once Travis was well caught by Ben Dancey for a well compiled 67, Cheddar’s innings drew to a close on 151-8 with further wickets falling to Tom Dancey (4-0-14-2) and Justin Turner (5-1-22-1).

In reply, Weston started poorly as Mark Bissex was lbw and Tom Dancey was run out. Some big hitting from Sam Poole (23) lifted the gloom, helped by Mike Lee (28) and Ben Dancey (24) to rebuild the innings.

Their dismissals raised some hope for the visitors as they sensed a chance of victory, helped further when Turner was caught for 14. However, Penwill (13 not out) and Lomax (6 not out) combined to guide Weston to victory and 33 points.

Intouch CRM man of the match went to Ricky Bissex.

Weston’s fourth team took on Huntspill & District, the only other unbeaten side in the league and duly made it four wins from four for the Weston sides for a second week in a row.

Weston won the toss and promptly put visitors into bat. Jon Lawrence (9-2-36-2) joined Rhys Crocker (10-3-25-1) with the new ball. A steady start saw Huntspill reach 61-3 off 18 before the first bowling change. Horler (10.1-1-42-4) and Josh Knight (4-1-8-0) slowed things down.

Cates (5-0-17-3) was brought into the attack and took much-needed wickets, and in the next six overs saw Huntspill reduced to 115-9 before the final wicket fell on 131.

Weston lost Sam Harris and Jon Lawrence early, but a chanceless 56 from Pete Hooper (his maiden senior 50) and an aggressive 35 from Carl Fletcher saw the required 132 reached in the 23rd over and another 35 points belonged to the Eaglets.

InTouch CRM man of the match was Pete Hooper

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This weekend sees five league games taking place. The first team look to continue their excellent start with a trip to Taunton St Andrews (1pm start), while the second team host their TSA counterparts (1.45pm). The thirds make the long trip to Westlands Yeovil (2pm) and the fourths travel to Huntspill & District (2pm).

On Sunday, the fourth team have a second game of the weekend as they play host to ground tenants Belvedere (2pm). Spectators are welcome at all games.