West of England Premier League
Premier 2 Bristol/Somerset
Keynsham 196 beat Shapwick & Polden 148 by 48 runs

IT was a case of déjà vu for Shapwick & Polden this weekend, as once again they failed to chase a mediocre score at Northbrook Road.

Having elected to bat first, Keynsham were immediately on the back foot as openers Steve Coppell (2-21) and Sean Stringer removed their opening batsmen for no score.

Shapwick were well on top at 31-3, but then Daniel Jarman (63) and Chris Gwyther (25) took advantage of some loose bowling to race along at six an over.

Shapwick captain Steve Tinnion donned the ‘keeping gloves and threw Wayne Spencer the ball, bringing immediate success as Spencer bowled Gwyther.

Callum Harvey (3-20) saw off the dangerous Jarman, and with Spencer getting another, 116-3 became 134-8.

Reg Keates (37) and Sam Wheller (20) dug in to drag their side past 150, before Stringer (2-44) and Ben Rudge (1-35) finished them off.

A target of 197 was more than the home side would have liked, but Tinnion (34) took three boundaries off opposing captain Tom Bryan in the first over.

But then Tinnion was caught at slip, and both Will Mason (5) and James Venkatrao (17) were stumped.

At 58-3 an air of calm was required, which John Stratton showed in abundance, but wickets continued to fall and the home side were in deep trouble at 99-7.

Steve Coppell (9) and Stratton rebuilt, and with Harry Woolway (15no) coming in to join Stratton (39), they needed 50 off the last eight.

Stratton was caught in the deep, though, and the visitors secured the win.

For the third time this season a ninth-wicket partnership proved crucial for the away side, something Shapwick have been unable to replicate, and thus they find themselves bottom at the halfway stage of the season.

On Saturday, Shapwick host third-placed Bishopston (12.30pm start).

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WEPL Somerset Division
Bridgwater 2nds 188 beat Minehead 178 by 10 runs

JAMES Duckering produced a match-winning spell to bowl Bridgwater 2nd XI to a tense victory at Luttrell Way on Saturday.

Having been bowled out for 188, Bridgwater looked in danger of defeat as Minehead made steady progress at 92-2.

However, on came Duckering to take 5-30 off 10 overs and destroy the middle order,

Even then, Minehead No 10 Darren Sherring hit a belligerent, unbeaten 40 as he and last man Gary Archer took the visitors closer to an unlikely victory.

However, Seth Locke pounced to run out Archer for six, with 10 still required and three overs remaining.

Earlier, with runs at a premium, Bridgwater openers John Hill (20) and Dominic Court (27) opened up with 50.

Then, Tom Bellinger’s middle order 30 proved vital as Sherring’s 10 overs yielded 5-36 and kept the Bridgwater total within reasonable bounds.

Dan Rossiter’s late 20 was also handy on a day when bowlers ruled the roost.

Bridgwater’s victory saw them consolidate second in the table, still in touch with leaders Frome.

On Saturday, they face a tough trip to Chard (12.30pm start).