Strugglers starting to get cut adrift at halfway stage

BUTLEIGH'S return to the Somerset Division has left them seven points adrift at the bottom at the halfway point of the campaign.

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Yet to win this season, Butleigh's struggles sadly continued at leaders Taunton Deane as they suffered a three-figure defeat.

A second-wicket partnership of 112 largely laid the foundation for the hosts to reach 280 before they bowled out a ball into the final, 50th over. Robbie Growdon and Patrick Mathers both managed to take three wickets apiece.

In reply, Butleigh were quickly reduced to 6-2 and then limped to 87-8. Ryan Church had struck a near run-a-ball 23, before captain Sam Bilsborough played an unbeaten 33 to show some resistance from the visitors.

With no-one sticking with him, Butleigh were dismissed for 114 a ball shy of 35 overs to lose by 166 runs.

Although Shapwick & Polden aren't far behind, the second-bottom side are already 54 points behind the rest of the pack as the table looks rather bleak for the near rivals.

Travelling to Wellington, Shapwick elected to bat but again struggled to gain any momentum as they slipped to 49-6.

Paul Kemp-King threatened to rescue the innings by himself with a patient unbeaten 83. He played a seventh-wicket partnership of 45 with Jack Broughton (14), before Alex Scott pushed things along with a good cameo of 37 in a stand of 65.

Shapwick's innings came to an end a ball into the 47th over for 213.

In no real mood to hang around, Wellington managed to complete the win inside 29 overs - losing only three wickets in the process. James Hayman did manage to remove the opener for a golden duck, via a catch from Nathan Roberts, but that was really as good as it got. Liam Gilbert accounted for the other two batters to fall.

WEDMORE were just unable to defend 249-8 as they fell to a narrow defeat at Bridgwater 3rd in the Premier Division.