CRICKET: Lympsham & Belvedere pick up win over Huish & Langport

BURNHAM will be pleased to drop down a level after a disappointing Premier season during which they have won just one match.

On Saturday, they played second-from-bottom Middlezoy and were well beaten.

Put in to bat, Burnham were immediately in trouble as Grant Purchase claimed both openers.

Skipper Rob Driver stood firm, however, and gained some support from Jim Bloodworth (11).

However, once Bloodworth fell there was little resistance before Driver was the last wicket to fall for 45.

Burnham crawled to 94 all out in just 29 overs with Purchase taking 4-25 off 9 and Pete Tilling and Nathan Barnard three wickets apiece.

When Middlezoy replied their fragile batting was exposed with only opener Barney Dillow looking comfortable against the opening attack of Craig Scriven.

When Lee Coles replaced Scriven, wickets began to fall but, with Dillow unmoved at the other end, Middlezoy had enough to limp home with five wickets remaining.

Dillow finished on a fine, unbeaten 54, while Coles ended with 3-34 off 9.

Driver maintained the fine form he has shown throughout the season, taking 1-14 off 9, and Andy Birkett 1-4 off 4.

On Saturday, Burnham play their penultimate league match at Shapwick & Polden.

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Somerset League Division 3
Lympsham & Belvedere 1st XI 236 beat Huish & Langport 1st XI 174-7 by 62 runs

A MATCH-winning stand between Sam McCrea and Jack Luff saw Lympsham to a comfortable win at home to bottom club Huish on Saturday.

Batting first, the home side lost Dave Luff early on but McCrea and skipper Neil Chadwick (19) added useful runs before the latter became the second victim of Jim Banks (2-19 off 9).

This brought McCrea and Luff together and they forged the key stand, with the former making 77 and Luff 64.

Ben Laing chipped in with 28 and Lympsham were all out for 236, Wayne Chapman taking 3-36.

When Huish replied, they made a solid start with openers Terry Crocker (30) and Ben Richardson (13) putting on 43 for the first wicket.

Lympsham used nine bowlers in an end-of-season style with Jack Neville, Callum Neale and Jack Luff taking two wickets apiece.

Each of the Huish top five reached double figures but no-one went on to make a match-winning score and they were 174-7 when the overs ran out, despite Wayne Chapman’s late 25no.

Lympsham will finish just below the pace-setters in a division dominated by Trull, who provide their opposition at the final day of the season on Saturday.

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HUNTSPILL & District travelled to second-placed Peasedown St John in Division 4 of the Somerset League and lost by 74.

Put in to bat, the home side’s top three each made a half-century as Huntspill’s bowlers received scant reward late in the innings.

Louis Wright and Tom Garner took two wickets apiece as Peasedown posted 226-5.

Huntspill skipper Nick Slack led the reply with a fine 62 but, after Craig Slack went for 39 and Ryan Edwards for 12, a procession of ducks returned to pavilion as the innings collapsed.

Darrin Vowell took 3-14 off 5 as Huntspill ran out of overs on 152-9.

On Saturday, Huntspill play their penultimate match at home to Kilmington & Stourton.

Wedmore, meanwhile, will pick up the Division 6N title on Saturday - barring a disaster.

Having been there or thereabouts all season, Wedmore are two points behind leaders Horrington with the final game in hand and close the season at Churchill this weekend.

They virtually sealed the title with a nine-wicket win at home to Burnham-on-Sea 2s, who are at the other end of the table.

Put in to bat, Burnham’s ever-reliable openers, Andy Ashfold (18) and Pete Gaylard (39), held the home attack at bay for a while but, once they fell, the floodgates opened.

Josh Burgess took 4-15 off 8 and D. Haining 2-11 as the Burnham innings disintegrated to 85 all out.

Wedmore made no mistake in reply as Burgess (32no) and Dan Luedicke (33no) saw them home in the 14th over as the Burnham attack toiled in vain.

East Huntspill’s difficult season continued as they failed to raise a side at home to Wembdon 3s.

In Division 7N, the local derby at Huntspill & District 2s with Lympsham & Belvedere 2s ended with the visitors winning by six wickets.

Electing to bat first, Huntspill opener Brandon Durkin looked in fine form, top scoring with 33.

Each of the top six reached double figures but no-one went on to build a match-winning innings as Lympsham’s varied attack kept it tight.

The visitors used seven bowlers with Jon Lodge (2-18 off 8) being the pick.

Connor Lefrere (25) and Ali Hay (20) added useful runs as Huntspill reached 163-6.

Lympsham 2s’ reply was dominated by half-centuries from Tom Cales (50) and Sam Harris (53no) which enabled the visitors to coast home in the 33rd over.

Bottom club Mark produced a fine victory at fellow strugglers Weston-super-Mare 4s, winning by 18 runs.

Electing to bat first, Mark opener Mike Norris hit 43 but the stand-out innings was from Tim Moxey, whose 79 provided the backbone of their total of 246-9.

The score would have been larger but Weston’s Matt Kearsey bowled well to take 4-43 off 8.

Weston’s reply was well set as Martyn Chambers (39) and Jon Mayo (58no) made useful contributions but Moxey (2-12 off 8) kept them behind the clock and L. Neilson’s 4-41 finished the job.

Wedmore 2s scheduled match at home to Cranmore 2s on Sunday was cancelled.