Read All The Senior Match Reports From Saturday 2nd July - By Steve Clapp
Article Date: 5th July 2011
1st XI v Nailsea (HOME)
Sodbury extended their unbeaten run to five games with a nervy 21 run victory over Nailsea.
Sodbury won the toss and batted first but got off to the worst possible start, losing Jerry Swatton to the first ball of the game. Rich Howell (1) soon followed and at 9 for 2 Sodbury were in deep trouble.
However Jamie Wakefield and Harry Webb produced a mature partnership of 75 to stop the rot and put Sodbury back in the game. Wakefield was the next man out for a well made 31 but Webb and Craig Scully continued the recovery.
Webb reached his first half century of the season before holing out in the deep and this sparked a flurry of wickets. The Rendell brothers departed in quick succession and Scully was superbly caught for 19.
Jon Toghill was then needlessly run out for 3 and debutant Chris Willoughby was clean bowled for 6.
At 159 for 9 Sodbury were in danger of gifting the visitors extra overs and posting a below par total.
The experienced final pair of Steve Clapp and Jay Penfold managed to stand firm and guide Sodbury to an extra batting point as the home side finished on 175 for 9 from their 45 overs.
Nailsea got off to a solid start in their run chase and had reached 37 before Jay Penfold made the breakthrough.
Three more soon followed for the veteran seamer as he tore through the visitor’s top order. Penfold produced a superb spell rattling through his allotted 13 overs claiming 4 for 24.
However at 115 for 4 the game was still in the balance. The next wicket was crucial and skipper Jamie Rendell did not disappoint as Penfold turned provider with a well taken catch over his shoulder.
Jon Toghill then got in on the act with the aid of a superb one handed diving catch from keeper John Rendell.
Jamie Rendell (3 for 49) continued to prove too cunning for the visitor’s lower order and wickets continued to fall at regular intervals as they collapsed to 134 for 8.
With the run rate over ten an over the game was Sodbury's however they could not quite finish the job as Nailsea's final pair clung on to 21 runs short on 154 for 9 from their 45 overs.
2nd XI v Nailsea (AWAY)
Sodbury proved too strong for their hosts as they ran out 50 run victors.
Sodbury batted first and were indebted first to the returning Lee Walters and later on in the innings the fit again Rick Wood.
Walters made his highest score of the summer with 65 in a knock including nine boundaries. However when he was dismissed Sodbury were struggling at 123 for 7.
Rick Wood entered the fray and wasted no time in unleashing a flurry of fours as he finished on 31 not out to take Sodbury to a competitive total of 184.
In reply Nailsea got off to an excellent start with an opening partnership worth 70.
However the introduction of left armers James Hicks and man of the moment Rick Wood turned the game in Sodbury’s favour.
The under bowled Hicks made the initial break through before Wood took control with a spell of 10 overs, 5 wickets for 19 runs.
Hicks continued to provide more than useful support as he finished with 3 for 30. The home side had no answer to the strong Sodbury attack as they finished 50 runs short of their total for the loss of 9 wickets.
3rd XI v Chew Magna 2nd XI (AWAY)
Sodbury's third team came away with a well deserved 24 run victory over a strong Chew Magna side. Sodbury batted first and lost Steve Doidge first ball.
Sodbury were then rescued by stalwarts Jeff Long and Mike Pearson. In scenes regularly witnessed in the late eighties the pair rolled back the years with a 123 run second wicket partnership.
Long was first to go for an ever patient 44 and when Pearson soon followed for a more aggressive 62, Sodbury folded to 163 all out.
The visitors knew they had to bowl well to come away with a victory and the Sodbury bowlers did not disappoint.
The promising Ben Weaver claimed 4 for 40 only to be outshone by the studious Matt Calicott. He continued his fine season with a miserly spell of 4 for 25 as Chew Magna were dismissed for 139 leaving Sodbury winners by 24 runs.
4th XI v Bedminster 4th XI (HOME)
For the second week in a row, Sodbury were involved in a controversial finished as they lost again by 1 wicket. Sodbury posted 125 after batting first.
They were thankful to some lower order resilience as Darren Bell (41) and Dave Harvey (20) share a half century ninth wicket partnership to give the Sodbury total some respectability.
Bedminster got off to a solid reply and were well on course for a comfortable victory before Kris Hemming turned the game on its head with a fiery spell of 5 for 25.
However with six needed by the visitors, Sodbury thought they had secured an unlikely victory as Hemming appealed for an lbw which was given out.
Sodbury's joy soon turned to despair as the decision was remarkably reversed and Bedminster managed to hit the winning runs two balls later to leave Sodbury heartbroken.
5th XI v Timsbury 4th XI
Sodbury romped to a 63 run victory largely thanks to an impressive all round performance from Dan Morgan. Batting first his 60 not out was the foundation for a competitive Sodbury total of 176 for 8 from their 45 overs. Ben Gast (23) and Jamie Pearson (21) also made vital contributions. He then starred with the ball ripping through the hosts with 5 for 16. With Jamie Pearson also chipping in with 2 for 26, Timsbury were all out for 113 to give Sodbury a morale boosting victory.
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