WELLINGTON Cricket Club took a trip to the seaside on Saturday (April 11) as a mixed Red and Blacks XI lined up against Bideford CC to get 2026 underway, writes David Derrick.

Bideford made a strong statement on winning the toss and asking Jacob Hurry's charges to bat first on a blustery, yet sunny day. Arron Campbell and Luke Desave took the opening deliveries of 2026 and added 38 for the opening wicket with Desave crashing 34 in 18 balls with three sixes as he weighed up a role as a pinch hitting opener.

Campbell strode to 47 in 82 balls with three fours and three sixes as Desave had too with a score of 132-3 when the former club and 1st XI captain was dismissed after being caught.

New skipper Jacob Hurry with 39 in 52 balls with four fours and a six scored at a good rate and combined well with Des Campbell who made a solid 14 with three fours of his own.

Andy Hurry's late 20 not out guided Wellington towards 200 in their 40 over allocation. For Bideford Currie and Luxton took three wickets each for 44 and 28 runs respectively to be the home side's best with the ball.

F. King with 106 not out as opener saw Bideford get home in 27.2 overs as J. King with 42 joined him in what was a powerful partnership of 82 for the fourth wicket. Wickets came the way of George Davis, Arron Campbell, Alex Derbidge and Aayan Kazi for Wellington. Scores: Wellington PSF 195-9, Bideford PSF 196-4

Next up for the Wellington club in the pre-season fixture schedule are games at Taunton Deane CC on Saturday (18th April) (1 p.m. start) and at Chard CC on Sunday, 19th April (1 p.m. start too).