Over 50’s
Following on from their excellent form last season, the 50s 1sts have won their 3 games by the most comfortable of margins, with 124 run win at Hampshire, 113 runs at Wiltshire, 124 runs at Wiltshire and a 9 wicket win at Dorset. Throughout the games runs have been shared about but Mark Sage scored a typically aggressive 52 not out against Dorset while Mark Tilley has found good early season form in scoring 97 against Hampshire. Similarly, the bowling has been a team effort but Jason Squire and Neil Hendy formed a miserly opening bowling partnership returning figures of 6-3-7-2 and 7-2-12-2 respectively against Wiltshire as they we ousted for 95.
The 50s 2nds are similarly undefeated in May with them winning two close games. Michael O’Mahony took 3-37 while restricting Wales to 261 which was chased down 7 wickets based around 59 from Mike Fisher and a magnificent 122 by Mike Denning. The win against Devon was a closer affair with Somerset feeling confident when scoring 283 for 7 with fifties from skipper Phil Higgson, Stewart Pointer and Andrew Stevens. Devon set off well in the chase but fell 2 runs short as O’Mahony again took three wickets.
After winning their delayed Cup Final in late April, the 50s 3rds were brought back to earth with a resounding defeat to Cornwall who amassed 406 in their first innings. The season was then put back on a winning course with a 7 wicket at Warwickshire with skipper Scott Wright taking the side home with a undefeated 43 and a last ball win against Gloucestershire. Gloucestershire set a stiff target of 324 but 58 from opener Pete Greatorex and 48 from the skipper set a sound foundation for the lower order to take us home.
Over 60’s
The 60s 1sts have stuttered in the early part of the season. The first game against Dorset was an 11 run victory as they defended 209, set up by a composed 84 from Graham Bishop, by bowling their opposition out for 198, with 3 wickets apiece for Everton Griffith and Andy Sapey. They were then undone by a traditionally strong Wales by 46 runs; Ian Thomas took 3 wickets while Simon Hogg contributed 60 with the bat. The following week saw us scoring a disappointing 167 which Cornwall cased down easily.
It has been a successful start for the 60s 2nds with two comfortable victories. The first against Wiltshire was by 4 wickets as the opposition was dismissed for 164 with three wickets apiece for Kevin Dornan and Simon Hogg, the latter for 6 runs! In reply skipper Chris Brewer scored an undefeated 35 to rescue the innings from 66 for 5. It was an easier affair against Cornwall who were dismissed for 139 when chasing our 192 for 6. Opener Ali Barr scored 41 while Chris Borton contributed 56 in a competitive total. Cornwall’s reply never really got going after the opening attack of Dornan (9-3-9-1) and Steve Jackson (9-4-22-2) raised the run rate and skipper applied the coup de gras with 4 for 23.
It has been a mixed start for the 60s 3rds with a win and a loss from their first two games. Cornwall were the stronger side when amassing 218 for 5 and the disappointing reply of 127 for 8 showed a lack of support for Duncan Nash’s well composed 44. Berkshire were comprehensively outplayed as they struggled to make much of an impression on the scoreboard, totalling 120 for 8 from their 45 overs, with skipper Steve Crompton and Steve Jackson each taking 3 wickets. The batting was dominated by Andy Carson who hit 69 not out as Somerset romped home by 9 wickets.
This year is the first of our new 60s 4th XI and they started in superb style by defeating Buckinghamshire by 6 wickets. They were restricted to 162 for 9 on a good batting surface through a disciplined bowling performance, exemplified by Steve Raymon (7-1-15-1) and Simon Cruickshank (8-1-19-1). The total was chased down with 8 overs to spare with the reply centred around Steve Capon’s 40 not out.
Over 70’s
The 70s 1sts entered the season with high hopes of again challenging for honours but were brought back to earth with a heavy defeat against a strong Oxfordshire side. The following game against Wales looked to be heading the same way as Somerset’s batters failed to take advantage batting first on a good wicket. Wales were cruising to a comfortable win at 73 without loss and were 24 ahead of DLS. A comedy runout set them back but the introduction of Steve Sheppard proved the turning point. Getting more movement than any other bowler his 6-3-5-2, coupled with Derry West’s 2.2-0-4-2 meant they were 2 behind DLS when the threatening black clouds unleashed their load. This seems to have kick started Somerset’s season as they have now won against Dorset when they chased down 219 based on 71 by Andrew Ashfold, 50 for Derry West and 53 not out from Miles Richards. A trip to Cornwall saw the hosts bat first and posted 238. The reply was dominated by a magnificent undefeated 126 by opener Peter Rebera to win in the final over.
The 70s 2nds started the defence of their league title in the best of ways by beating Warwickshire by 8 wickets. The Bears batted first and were held to 140 all out due to a tight bowling unit led by skipper Glyn “Polly” Flinders who took 5 for 23. Somerset answered in the most positive of manners with Peter Rebera scoring 50 and Keith Milsom finishing the job with an undefeated 67.
Over’s Women
2026 is the inaugural year of Senior Women competition against local counties and our side started in the best of ways with a 25 run win over Wiltshire. Being put into bat opener Liz Basson batted superbly to score 98 off 60 balls (16 fours and 2 sixes), being run out with her century in sight. Katie Rudd continued the assault adding 61 not out as Somerset totalled an impressive 263 from 35 overs. Wiltshire replied well with 238 for 3 with Lucy Hopkins taking 2 wickets.
