WESTON took to the field against Taunton St Andrews on Saturday in the first of the Globe Sports WEPL Premier 1 league games, last year s runners-up versus the champions.

WESTON took to the field against Taunton St Andrews on Saturday in the first of the Globe Sports WEPL Premier 1 league games, last year's runners-up versus the champions.

Both sides had a number of changes from last season, but with league bowling restrictions being reduced from 16 to 11 overs, there was every chance of the game changing on the basis of one good or bad spell of bowling.

Returning to the captaincy after a two year hiatus, Gary Morgan won the toss and asked St Andrews to bat first. Tom Main made a breakthrough in his first over removing Contreras caught behind by Edd Brown. This brought Keith Parsons to the crease, and once he was joined by his brother Kevin (39), Weston heads dropped as they watched the total creep up steadily.

Keith passed his half century with ease, but the spin combination of Shabil Ahmed and Ashley Allen eventually slowed the run rate and saw wickets fall as they accounted for the middle order.

Andy Fear continued to hold back the years as he was the pick of the Weston bowlers, finishing with 3-44, including the wicket of Keith Parson, who scored a seamless 137.

Weston were left facing the prospect of chasing the daunting total of 261-7. However, Brown (29) and Ahmed (37) took the St Andrews bowlers to task straight away, taking a particular liking early on to Lloyd Alley.

The innings stuttered as the batsmen failed to take hold of the tandem bowling from the Pitkin brothers, but John Williams (31) and Simon Green (37) gradually began to up the run rate and increased the chances of more points from the game.

Both fell to Mike Parsons in quick succession, and with only 10 overs left to bowl removed any remaining chance of a Weston victory. Mitch Smit and Fear battened down the hatches, determined to see it through to the end, and Weston ended up 60 runs short, but with wickets intact.

Weston took 11 points from the encounter in recording a 50+ run losing draw, but need to draw on the positives with Fear in good form with the ball, and Brown, Ahmed, Williams and Green making good starts with the bat.

Morgan is also safe in the knowledge that the team are expecting D'souza, Turner, Stiff and Gabitass to return during the course of the summer, which will only improve the team.

On Saturday, Weston travel to perennial rivals Bridgwater, starting at 12.30pm, while the Devonshire Road ground will host both the 2nd XI and the 3rd XI, while Sunday sees the ladies kick off their league campaign against Brompton Ralph at home, 2pm start.

You can follow Weston's progress on the Club website, www.wsmcc.play-cricket.com