WELLINGTON suffered a seven-wicket home defeat at the hands of Weston super Mare in the Bristol and Somerset Division of the West of England Premier Cricket League on Saturday (May 25).

Looking for their first home victory of the season, Wellington simply did not make enough runs under a cloudy sky and therefore paid the penalty.

Wellington, who won the toss and decided to bat, were soon in trouble, losing opener Nathan Roberts (1) with the score at 11. Fellow opener George Ruell was then joined by Jacob Hurry and the partnership was beginning to prosper when Ruell was out for 23 on 35.

Four runs later Hurry departed for nine and Wellington were now looking decidedly shaky. Alex Sparks was out for two and skipper Arron Campbell was caught for only 11 as Harry Richards began to rip through Wellington's middle-order.

With half the side back in the pavilion, Wellington were 54-5 and a big partnership was needed if the home side were going to set any kind of target.

Vice-captain Luke Desave was next to go without further addition, clean bowled by Harvey who was proving unplayable.

Sachindu Colombage came in to join Jack Beale but the Sri Lankan scored only two runs before he was stumped by Ryan Hearse off the bowling of Harvey.

Wellington were now 69-7 and this became 78-8 when Beale was out for 22, leaving Callum Hendy and Richard Sharples with the hopeless task of putting runs on the scoreboard to help Wellington's bowlers.

There were plenty of overs left in which to prevent a complete collapse. Harvey had already finished his stint of bowling, finishing with figures of 6-41 in ten overs with only Dexter Trego and Lachie Bailey having taken the two other wickets to fall, removing Wellington's two openers.

Hendy and Sharples managed to see three figures go up on the scoreboard as they tried to set some kind of meaningful target.

Hendy ended the day as Wellington's top scorer with 28 as the home side were bowled out for 119 in 34 overs.

Weston knocked off the runs for the loss of three wickets in 27.3 overs to move up to sixth in the table while Wellington dropped back to seventh, with two wins and two losses which were both at the Playing Field.

In other Bristol/Somerset League matches, leaders Downend went down by 16 runs to Golden Hill who are now only three points behind their rivals, both sides having played four matches.

Midsomer Norton, who won by one run at Clevedon in the day's most exciting match, are five points further adrift in third spot.