WEPL Weather’s the big winner on league’s season-opening weekend
WET weather wrecked the opening league Saturday of the cricket season with the vast majority of clubs across the West Country left kicking their heels in frustration as relentless rain made cancellations a formality.
There was only one result in the region’s leading competition, the West of England Premier League (WEPL), with Bridgwater somehow evading the downpours to complete a 111-run home triumph against Taunton St Andrews.
And a handful of games started and finished in the Somerset League, including Weston-superMare 2nds dispatching local rivals Burnham-on-Sea for a 122-run success in Division One.
But everywhere else heavy showers led to wash out after wash out with no play at all in 16 divisions of the Bristol & District League for an extremely rare ‘wet sweep.’
This image, of the scene at Winterbourne’s St Michael’s venue where ducks relocated from the village’s famous pond to make themselves at home on the flooded square, was typical of the conditions facing many clubs.
All the more remarkable, therefore, that Bridgwater, after losing the toss at home, rattled up an imposing 318-9 from their 50 overs after being given a turbo-charged start by opener Mike Coles whose 81 from only 45 balls featured seven fours and eight sixes while Somerset white ball specialist Will Smeed weighed in with 53.
In reply, Saints were rumbled for 207 with three former Clevedon players all making their mark with the ball.
Former Clevedon skipper and Warwickshire left-arm wrist spinner Jake Lintott marked his Bridgy debut with a return of 3-58 while Dan Williams finished with 3-41 from ten and Luke Pearson Taylor sent down five overs for 20 runs.
The innings of the day, though, came from Weston 2nds opener Kruz Belcher who compiled an unbeaten 127 from 108 (10 fours, six sixes) after his side lost the toss at home to Burnham.
Belcher’s ton helped his side total 227-3 from a weather-reduced 36 overs ahead of the visitors being bowled out for 105, veteran Andy Fear returning 3-10 from six while Harvey Richards captured 3-23.
Across the road, neighbours Uphill Castle 2nds were dismissed for 108 in Division Five by West Coker & Hardington who eased in by five wickets.
And in Division Seven Blue, Churchill 2nds were dismissed for just 70 but managed to snaffle a two-run triumph away to Uphill 3rds with Jon Burdge claiming 5-15 from eight.
Women’s Cricket
THERE was frustration for Southern Vipers and Western Storm after their Rachael Heyhoe Trophy game at Hove was washed out without a ball being bowled. Heavy rain had set in before the scheduled 10.30am start and after taking an early lunch the umpires, mindful of a gloomy forecast for the rest of the afternoon, abandoned the game just before 2pm with puddles already forming on the outfield.
It was a blow to both teams’ hopes of gaining ground on leaders South East Stars. The Vipers return to the 1st Central Ground on Wednesday to play Central Sparks while Storm head to Leicester the same day to play The Blaze.
» Somerset’s LV= County Championship Division One match against Northamptonshire at Taunton ended in a draw last night just as the Post was going to press.