WELLINGTON slipped down to fifth place in the Somerset Division of the West of England Premier Cricket League following a five wicket defeat at Chard, writes David Derrick.

There are only 17 points between Wellington and second placed Yeovil, but top dogs Ilminster surged 25 points clear at the season's halfway point with their win at Wembdon.

At Chard, Jacob Hurry chose to bat first on winning the toss and a good opening stand of 51 from George Ruell and Luke Desave put Wellington on the front foot in only seven overs as Ruell hit a fluent 40 in 36 balls with eight lovely fours. Desave made a solid 12 in 25 balls with two fours.

From a score of 72-3 Lakshan Edirisinghe and Arron Campbell added 68 for the fourth wicket to get to 140 before both were dismissed within one run of each other, having made 50 and 21 respectively and run scoring for the rest of the Wellington innings became difficult as Chard's spin trio of Lott, Legg and Dalwood delivered thirty overs between them for just 81 runs taking seven of the nine wickets to fall.

Brendan Poole, who is making a great impact since joining, made a well crafted 38 not out in 53 balls with four fours as the Wellington score ended on 191-9 with Poole and George Davis adding a useful 21 unbeaten runs for the last wicket as the full fifty overs were faced in more very warm, bordering on hot conditions.

Chard would need to score at just under four an over to bounce back from their tough derby defeat to Ilminster seven days earlier. Their reply did not start well as George Davis and Toby Stirzaker removed home opening pair Lott and Mawdsley each for scores of zero and when Scott was trapped LBW by Stirzaker, Chard were 16-3 and in trouble with the bat.

Yeki with 26, batting at number three, was out at 54-4 and this success for Lakshan Edirisinghe was another upbeat moment for Wellington. It was from this point that Chard started to wrest control of the game as a 105 run fifth wicket stand between keeper Sclater (78 in 98 balls with nine fours) and Evans (61 not out in 95 balls with eight fours) took their score to 159-5.

Ben Evett was pressed into action with the ball and, as he had for the 2nd XI the week before, took a wicket as his leg spin removed Sclater to bring back good memories of his time as a full time bowler of this style in his younger days!

That was to be Wellington's last success with the ball as Dalwood with a solid 15 not out, along with Evans, saw Chard over the line by five wickets with six overs to spare as they took a full twenty points to Wellington's five.

The Red and Blacks are still looking at the top half of the division as the place that they belong in, but these two defeats have just arrested things given the seven game unbeaten run that started the 2026 season.

Next up is the visit of Ilminster on Saturday, 4th July, for what is a much anticipated match; this proceeds the club's Sri Lankan themed night that takes place at the Long Hop Bar after the Ilminster game has concluded.