WELLINGTON 2nd XI got their Somerset League Division One campaign underway for 2026 with a massive win over pre-match second placed Weston Super Mare 2nd XI at the Lloyd and Whyte Cricket Ground. Rob Moysey's team triumphed by 39 runs to move up to ninth place as WSM moved downwards to fifth, writes David Derrick.

Moysey won the toss and batted first. The Red and Blacks innings was a story of five batters - each of whom got going and so provided runs at every turn.

Aks Latifi and Andy Hurry got the show underway with a capital opening stand of 90 as Latifi made a second successive fifty for his side with bang on 50 this time made in 49 balls with seven fours and one six.

Hurry was the pivot of the Wellington innings as he masterfully crafted 66no in 112 balls with five fours and, effectively, carried his bat.

Mark Salter was getting set and, having made 16, was out caught by A.Fear.

Ben Evett with another innings of 29 in 37 balls with three fours played the ramp shot whenever he could, thus putting the WSM attack off their intended line.

When Evett was out at 188-3, a perfect counter attack by Oli Hutchings who smashed 62 not out in 40 balls with nine fours and a six in combination with Hurry added 77 for the fourth Wellington wicket as WSM's attack and fielding began to flag and flake in the heat and the tempo of Wellington's batting.

Only WSM skipper S.Trego with a decent enough 2-42 in nine overs made any sort of impression with the ball for the visiting side.It was a massive 266 to win for WSM 2s after another luxurious tea that was provided by Wellington's clubhouse team.

The WSM innings threatened to really get going at times in its duration, but wickets were lost at regular intervals and Wellington were always just about ahead of the game.

Justin Joseph and Will Parkman shared the new ball for Wellington and removed A.Fear to make WSM 2s 16-1 as Aks Latifi caught him behind off of Parkman.

W.Fear with 33 and S.Trego got their side to 148-4 with Neil Hendy's accurate medium pace realising 2-29 in six overs as the game was nicely balanced.

In Rob Turner, WSM had a former professional player of some repute in their ranks and whilst he was at the crease the visitors always had a chance of achieving the large Wellington total as he made 90 in 85 balls with eleven fours and two sixes - had he not twisted a knee and required a runner then his side may have won, but his dismissal and another four for Rob Moysey who took 5-31 in nine excellent overs of leg spin ensured a first win at this level since promotion from Division Two at the end of 2025.

Alex Derbidge weighed in with one scalp for his side as three catches from Justin Joseph and a superb run out to end the game from Ben Evett as Taylor-Rowlands went for 14 gave Wellington a 39 run success and 35 points to WSM 2s and their haul of 13 with nearly five overs going unused.

The side is away to Wincombe on Saturday.