THE sun set on another season for Somerset at Chelmsford when they were beaten by Essex by seven wickets - a result from which they take six points which sees them end up in third place in Division One of the County Championship, the same position as 2024.

This year Somerset improved on last season’s performance in the Vitality Blast and won the trophy after beating Hampshire in the final at Edgbaston. In the Metro Bank One Day Cup once again a very young Somerset side performed well in the group stages but were beaten by Worcestershire in the semi final.

All in al, it has been a very successful season for Somerset and people from many of the 18 first class counties would be very happy, but yet again they have fallen short of winning that elusive County Championship - the one trophy that they have never won.

They have been runners up on a number of occasions and there was hope that this being the club’s 150th centenary that the team would cap the year off with winning the Holy Grail - but alas the wait goes on for another season.

Once again Somerset have paid the price for their slow start to the four day campaign. Two of the four matches in April were drawn and two were lost, and rather than looking like champions the team looked heading for relegation.

Thankfully in May three games were won, which set them on their way, however, by then the damage had been done and Somerset were playing catch up all the time.

The Cidermen triumphed in the Vitality Blast, making it two wins in three seasons and on each occasion when they appeared to be down and out they were rescued.

In the home quarter final against Warwickshire they looked to be well beaten, but thankfully Sean Dickson had other ideas and saw Somerset home at the end of a breathtaking match, one of the best ever seen at Taunton.

Then in the final it was the turn of Will Smeed, who hadn’t enjoyed the best of seasons, to stand up and all but see his side home before Dickson and Lewis Gregory finished the job off.

In the Metro Bank One Day Cup yet again Somerset’s young guns gave a good account of themselves and put in some strong performances against more experienced sides before losing out to eventual winners Worcestershire in the semi final.

At the end of the season Somerset said goodbye to Sean Dickson and Ben Green who both played a big part in helping to win the Vitality Blast. They also said farewell to Andy Umeed, Josh Davey and Kasey Aldridge who have all made winning contributions over the years.

Seventeen year old Thomas Rew is a highly rated exciting young talent who made quite an impact in the games that he played, while Josh Thomas grabbed his chance at the top of the order in the final championship match of the season to show what he is capable of.

At present the only new signing announced is bowler Josh Shaw from Gloucestershire who is obviously going to expected to bowl the overs that Davey and Aldridge would have, in addition to which JT Langridge and Alfie Ogborne are waiting their opportunities in 2026 - so there is plenty to look forward to.