Weston opened the season with a six run defeat at Chard.

WESTON 1st XI’s season began with a disappointing loss against Chard in WEPL Premier Two, going down to a six run defeat.

New captain Adam Davies won the toss and following weeks of rain, elected to make use of the green tinge in the wicket that met the two teams.

The Weston bowlers performed well, reducing the home side to 49-6 before John Scott (37 not out) and Chris Scott (24) led a lower order rally and helped their team to 133 all out.

Notable performances with ball included Ben Main 2-19 from his 10 overs, 2-15 from twin brother Tom and 2-32 from opening bowler Sean Stringer.

Weston’s reply started steadily and positively with Simon Green scoring a quick fire 19 which included three fours and a six. However, soon after he was caught at cover, wickets began to fall at regular intervals.

The Chard bowlers bowled economically and with good discipline, especially the trio of spinners Mark Tilley (10-5-13-0), Jon Dalwood (10-5-14-2) and Chris Scott (9.5-4-24-4).

It was only a battling 43 from Andy Fear, a positive 18 from Sean Stringer and 12 not out from debutant Chris Davidson that gave Weston a sniff of winning. With Davidson running out of partners and despite Davies’ (12) best efforts, Weston were eventually bowled out for 127 handing victory to Chard by six runs.

IntouchCRM man of the match was Andy Fear.

Chard

N Auger c&b T Main 11

M Tilley c Davies b Stringer 0

J Hayes c Davies b B Main 6

M Kennedy b T Main 0

A Clancy lbw B Main 15

S Wells-Burr b Davies 2

J Dalwood lbw Fear 9

J Scott not out 37

J Seward c&b Trego 5

C Scott b Stringer 24

T Balch run out 1

Extras 23

Total 133

Bowling: S Stringer 10-0-32-2; T Main 7-1-15-2; B Main 10-4-19-2; A Davies 5-0-14-1; C Davidson 4-1-3-0; A Fear 4-1-12-1; S Trego 9.2-2-30-1.

Weston

A Fear c Seward b C Scott 43

S Green c Hayes b Seward 19

G Morgan lbw Seward 1

S Trego c Scott b Dalwood 6

P Stringer lbw Dalwood 1

J Davidson c Dalwood b Wells-Burr 1

C Davidson not out 12

S Stringer c J Scott b C Scott 18

T Main b Seward 0

A Davies b C Scott 12

B Main c Dalwood b C Scott 0

Extras 14

Total 127

Weston’s second XI got their season off to a winning start with a comfortable 94 run victory against Knowle at Devonshire Road.

After losing Tom Ford and Mitch Smit in quick succession, Weston were reeling at 25-2. Jason Neave joined the returning Matt Kearsey. However, once the latter was lbw for 22, last season’s batting demons looked to be re-surfacing.

Sam Curley took the game to the Knowle bowlers in partnership with Neave. The experienced duo added 151 together before Curley was bowled for an excellent 77. Neave continued to attack and ended on 94 not out as the team closed on 228-5.

In reply, Weston got off to the best possible start with Kumar caught by Smit off the bowling of Tom Court (7-0-30-2) from the first ball of the innings. With wickets falling at regular intervals to Jalal Ahmed (9-3-24-2), Ash Allen (9-2-24-2) and Kearsey (5-1-15-2), along with run outs from Neave and Ford, Knowle were bowled out for 135 in the 38th over.

IntouchCRM man of the match was shared between Sam Curley and Jason Neave.

Weston 3rds season got off to a thrilling, but ultimately unsuccessful, start as they lost at home to Kilve by one wicket with just four balls remaining.

Weston made a steady if unspectacular start with Tom Dancey and Pete Lomax. Dancey departed for 17 and with Matt Blamire and Ben Dancey following soon after.

Mike Lee joined Lomax and started to rebuild the innings in the face of some accurate bowling.

With runs difficult to come by Lee tried manfully to up the rate to no avail and was bowled for 37 leaving Simon Biddle (3 not out) to support Lomax (56 not out) as Weston finished on 159-4 from 45 overs.

In reply, the Weston attack soon had Kilve in some bother as debutant Dale Chard removed both openers. Two easy chances were both put down allowing Stone (38) and Martin (34) to consolidate.

The introduction of Matt Humphrey (11.2-3-38-3) brought dividends as he accounted for both Martin and Stone. P Stone’s well made 28 gave Kilve some impetus, however, further inroads by Chard (11-2-34-4) and Stu Roberts (12-1-35-2) left the game finely poised with the last pair at the wicket.

Humphrey was unable to prevent Kilve scampering the four runs they needed from the final over.

IntouchCRM man of the Match went to Dale Chard.

This weekend sees the First XI take on Ashcott & Shapwick at Devonshire Road (1pm), while the Seconds travel to their Ashcott & Shapwick counterparts (1.30pm).

The thirds have a local derby at home to Cheddar 2nds (2pm) and the Fourths look to get their season up and running against Huntspill & District 2nds (2pm).

On Sunday, the Sunday Friendly XI take on ground tenants Belvedere (2pm).