Both Winscombe Firsts and Seconds XIs enjoyed victories last weekend

It was the Second XI who stole the headlines with an impressive team performance to beat, previously unbeaten and table topping, Shaftesbury Road by 18 runs at the Rec. 

Winscombe, batting first, were given a fine start by Dave Bailey and Matt Coe who put on over 50 for the first wicket before Coe fell for 19. 

Bailey held the innings together with a belligerent 57, before captain George Frappell, with 30, and Ethan D’Ovido, with a valuable 21 not out, saw the innings to 175 all out, a decent enough but not likely to be match winning score. 

For Shaftesbury Road Craig Mawford returned 5-45, Josh White 2-36 and Dayle Grubb 2-33.

Shaftesbury Road lost early wickets to Winscombe’s young opening bowlers with Ben Osmond taking two clean bowling and D’ovido one, to an outstanding catch by wicketkeeper Ed Bourton. 

Chris Kennel set about repairing the innings before he was dismissed for 32. Then Winscombe’s young leg spinners took centre stage tempting the batsman into indiscretions with Tom Morris picking up three wickets and Jacob Lunn picked up one. 

Mawford, with 43 not out, was singlehandedly keeping his team in the game but ran out of partners when another youngster Fin Bawden claimed the final two wickets leaving the Berries 18 runs short of their target.

Winscombe’s team include five players of 14-years-old or younger and between them they took nine of the wickets. It was an amazing performance from them demonstrating great talent and growing maturity. Winscombe Second XI have now moved up to second in their league, a position they will look to consolidate this weekend.

Winscombe First XI put their difficulties on the road behind them with a comprehensive 107-run victory at Shapwick & Polden Seconds.

Winscombe, batting first on a tricky wicket, managed to score 181 all out with fine contributions from, Rob Shephard (47), captain for the day Jory Cureton (42) and Alex Birt (38).

Pick of the Shapwick bowlers was Antony Veevers with 4-39 from his nine overs. In reply, Shapwick struggled to 74 all out against Winscombe’s all seam attack with Nathan Kemp (1-16), George Fox (3-16), Jory Cureton (3-23) and Tom Hall (3-16) sharing the wickets. Now third in the Somerset Premier table, Winscombe face a mercurial Bridgwater side this Saturday.