WELLINGTON, unbeaten throughout last summer, showed their fighting qualities in the Bristol/Somerset Division of the West of England Premier Cricket League with a thrilling ten-run victory over Taunton Deane at the Convent Field on Saturday, writes Barry Knott.

Any doubts about the game going ahead following the week's heavy rain were dismissed as bright sunshine greeted the players on one of the best days for some time.

And what followed was an absorbing local derby which looked like being won by the home side before Wellington showed last season's form to snatch victory, hitting the highest score in the division along the way.

Wellington, put into bat, scored 216 all out in 43.3 overs - after making a disappointing start to their first season in the division. They lost four wickets for only 27 runs, including skipper Arron Campbell and Alex Sparks who both went without scoring.

Jacob Hurry and Sachindu Colombages steadied nerves with a fifth wicket stand of 68 runs before the new Sri Lankan was out for 22, caught by Ben Chaffey.

Hurry lost another partner in Richard Sharples (4) before being joined by Wellington's vice-captain Luke Desave. These two scored 94 runs before Hurry was lbw to Sam Burgess, having scored a splendid 75, which included two sixes and seven fours. He made his valuable runs off 128 balls.

Desave kept the tail wagging with a knock of 51 before being caught by Jushua Nelson, again off the bowling of Burgess. Desave's innings included one six and seven fours and came off only 54 balls.

Chaffey finished off the tail, taking 3-20 in his six overs as Wellington were bowled out. Burgess ended with figures of 2-29 off 4.3 overs and J W Brehaut 2-41 off eight overs.

In reply, the Deane openers Harry Smith and Tenessee Harlow put on 80 for the first wicket before Smith was out, skipper Campbell making the breakthrough with an lbw. Harlow was out with the score on 126, having made 49 during a 117-minute innings, being caught by Callum Hendy off the bowling of Toby Stirzaker.

At this stage the Deane looked comfortably in control of the game but Jack Beal removed Chaffey who had made a patient 23 in exactly an hour.

Wellington desperately needed another breakthrough as Alastair Warren joined Ali Hamid with three wickets down for 137 and with Campbell having completed his ten-over stint with a very respectable 1-30.

The Deane, who were relegated at the end of last season after winning only three games, still looked in the driving seat with enough overs in hand to get the required runs.

But they began losing wickets as Warren and Edward Mellor were run out and Hamid and Burgess lost their wickets to Desave,

At 195-7, Wellington were very much in the game with Deane beginning to look in some trouble.

Ged Williams-Pritchard and JW Brehaut were now at the crease looking to halt a collapse. Williams-Pritchard was next to go, caught by Hendy leaving the Deane at 199-8 - still 18 runs short of victory and with overs running out.

J W Brehaut went for one, leaving the Deane in desperate trouble, and Nelson soon followed for a duck, leaving Wellington the winners of a thrilling game which, at one stage, had looked beyond them.

Scores: Taunton Deane 206 (9), Wellington 216 (20). Other results in the division: Golden Hill 146 (6), Clevedon 179 (20); Ilminster 153 (20), Consgresbury 142 (6); Keynsham 59 (1), Weston super Mare 62-2 (20); Midsomer Norton98 (1), Downend 100-2 (20).

Wellington are home to Midsomer Norton on Saturday, May 11.