Stogumber maintained their unbeaten league record on Saturday when they defeated Bagborough by four wickets in their final match of the season. In a pulsating game, they achieved victory with just three balls remaining.

The only disappointment of the day for Stogumber was the dismissal of Simon Penny when he was just 33 runs short of completing 1,000 league runs for the season. Penny has been in tremendous form and Saturday was no exception. He looked odds on favourite to achieve his target when, to everyone’s surprise and to the disappointment of his colleagues, he was out caught behind for 95. Nevertheless, he can look back on a terrific season in which he finished with an awesome average of 87.5.

Home side Bagborough batted first and an excellent 69 by Alan Dingle helped them to 207-9 at the end of their 40 overs. Although their ground fielding was excellent, a number of dropped catches did not help Stogumber’s cause. Skipper James Rexworthy finished with 3-16 in his five overs.

Penny and Robbie Watts gave the visitors a sound start and Robbie Garwood batted well for his 21, but the dismissal of Penny with the score on 165 led to an exciting finish.  When Nick Bennett joined Eli Hayes at the wicket 42 runs were still required with just five overs remaining. Sensible batting by these two ensured the visitors reached their target in the final over, with Hayes and Bennett both unbeaten on 17 and 24 respectively.

This was probably Stogumber’s toughest game of the season and credit must be given to the home side for their accurate bowling and exceptional fielding.

Bagborough 207-9: (A Dingle 69, J. Dingle 30, J Rexworthy 3-16). Stogumber 208-6 (S Penny 95, N Bennett 24, A Dingle 3-69).

Bagborough 8 points. Stogumber 26 points.       

Division Two champions Stogumber gained their easiest victory of the season away to an eight-man Churchinford on Saturday.

Electing to bat, the depleted home side had no answer to Stogumber’s opening attack of Lee Penny and Mark Bryant who got both swing and movement off the wicket. Not one of the Churchinford side reached double figures as Penny finished with 3-16 off nine overs and Bryant 2-8 off seven overs.

A fine catch by captain James Rexworthy off the bowling of Penny accounted for the first wicket and it was a procession from there on. Rexworthy took a wicket with his first ball and the home side finished with just 36, of which 14 were extras!

Despite making several changes to the batting order, Stogumber claimed an easy six wicket win, with Dan Godfrey scoring 23. Victory was achieved in just 5.4 overs, Penny claiming the winning runs with a thumping on-drive which sped to the boundary.

Churchinford 36 (L Penny 3-16, M Bryant 2-8, J Rexworthy 2-4).

Stogumber 40-4 (D Godfrey 23).

Churchinford 2 points. Stogumber 26 points.

Players and supporters were celebrating on Saturday after Stogumber completed victory over visitors Carhampton to win the Division Two title with two matches still to play. 
This has been a terrific season for captain James Rexworthy and his squad, with a playing record which reads played 16, won 15. The one match they failed to win was called off midway through the game because of heavy rain.
 Carhampton put up a spirited fight, however, before going down to a five-wicket defeat with a brilliant hundred by opener Luke Taylor being the highlight of their innings. After losing three quick wickets, two of them in the first over of the match to the fiery Mark Bryant, Taylor dominated the home bowling. He cracked 19 fours and four sixes and shared in vital partnerships with Adrian Priddle and Rob Follett as the visitors reached 209-8 in their 40 overs. Bryant and Lee Penny were the pick of the home bowlers, both taking three wickets.
A target of 210 for victory is normally very achievable on Stogumber’s excellent batting wicket, but accurate bowling by Matt Long and John Tidbald kept openers, Dan Godfrey and Robbie Watts, in check. Gradually runs started to flow but wickets were also beginning to fall. When Eli Hayes joined Rexworthy, the target was eight runs an over, but sensible play between these two – and a number of fiercely hit boundaries – saw victory achieved in the 38th over, with Rexworthy unbeaten on 55.
After the game Rexworthy said he was delighted with how the season had gone and was looking forward to locking horns with teams in Division One. He added: “We know we’ll have more difficult games next year but the spirit in the side is pretty good. It’s a fairly young side and they still have plenty to learn but I’m confident we’ll hold our own.” 
Carhampton 209 (L Taylor 129, A Priddle 27, L Penny 3-42, M Bryant 3-59)).
Stogumber 210-5 (J Rexworthy 55 not, R. Watts 41, D Godfrey 40, R Spiers 2-37, R Rich 2-50).
Stogumber 25 points, Carhampton 8 points.

Another terrific innings by Simon Penny laid the foundation for Stogumber’s 63-run victory over third placed Lydeard St Lawrence on Saturday. Penny finished just six runs short of a well deserved century as he helped the home side to a formidable 276 for 3.

On an excellent Stogumber wicket, the home side found runs hard to come by in the early stages against fine accurate bowling by Nathan Hill and visiting captain Simon Cattell, with Hill conceding just 15 runs in his first eight overs. Dan Godfrey (35) was the first to go when he sliced an attempted pull to fine leg in the eighteenth over with the total on 69. Penny then joined Robbie Watts and these two put on 118 for the second wicket, with the ball disappearing to all parts of the ground in the latter part of their partnership.

Watts finished with an excellent 78 but the tempo continued with the arrival of Arron Webster (30). Webster’s departure signalled the start a magnificent burst of scoring by Penny, who ended his undefeated innings of 94 with four sixes. A total of 66 runs came in the last five overs, a telling factor in the final result.

Lydeard’s reply was centred on a fine half-century by Mark Hannaford. Nathan Hill hit a brisk 33 at the top of the order and there were useful contributions by Steve Rucklidge and Dave Hill. When Hannaford departed after his splendid 55, however, the innings subsided to 213 all out in the 39th over. Occasional bowler Nick Bennett was the pick of the bowlers. He finished with 4-45 off 7.3 overs and certainly showed his skipper that perhaps he should turn his arm over on a more regular basis.

Stogumber 276-3 (S Penny 94 not, R Watts 78, D Godfrey 35, A Webster 30).

Lydeard St Lawrence 213 (M Hannaford 55, D Hill 38, S Rucklidge 37, N Hill 33, N Bennett 4-45, B Walsh 2-20, S Penny 2-63).

Stogumber 26 points, Lydeard St Lawrence 6 points

Stogumber continued their season’s unbeaten run on Saturday but only after they were given a mighty fright by bottom side Morebath. In a game reduced to 30 overs a side, the visitors were indebted to another very important innings by Simon Penny as they scrambled to a four-wicket victory in the penultimate over.

Batting first, Morebath’s innings was punctuated by several heavy showers. They lost two early wickets to the persevering Lee Penny and at 61 for 6 appeared to be heading for a low total. An excellent partnership, however, of 80 between Chris Hill and M Hunt (29) kept the home side in the game. Hill played several delightful shots, particularly though the covers, as he made his way to a fine 56 as the home side were finally bowled out in their final over for 151.

James Rexworthy finished with the excellent figures of 5 for 33 off eight overs, but overall Stogumber’s bowling and fielding was below par, perhaps a reflection of several of their players celebrating a special birthday of a popular member the previous evening.

Stogumber were given a sound start by Stuart Thorne and Brandon Walsh but against some excellent and accurate bowling found themselves in trouble at 60 for 4 and with the overs slipping away. Aarron Webster (21) helped Penny take the score past the 130 mark before Webster departed. Penny was then well caught by Mock for 52, but sensible batting by Ben Howe and two lusty blows by the experienced Brian Penny took Stogumber to victory.

Morebath: 151 (C Hill 56, M Hunt 29, J Rexworthy 5-33, L Penny 2-31).

Stogumber: 152 – 6 (S Penny 52, A Webster 21, H Oliver 3-39).

 Morebath 8 points, Stogumber 26 points.    

Stogumber took an important step to winning the Division Two title when they beat their closest rivals Roadwater by three wickets on Saturday. In a match of fluctuating fortunes, a thrilling undefeated eighth-wicket partnership of 82 between Eli Hayes and Nick Bennett took the home side to victory.

On a hot, sunny day, Roadwater elected to bat on a typically hard and true Stogumber wicket. They lost two early wickets to the persevering Lee Penny but a typically fine innings by Freddie Wilson steadied the ship. Wilson, who was dropped twice, hit thirteen fours and one six on his way to 70.

The introduction of James Rexworthy into the attack saw wickets begin to fall and only a hard-hitting 47 by Andrew Covey, who was given good support by the tail, pushed Roadwater’s total to 222 for 9 at the end of their 40 overs. Rexworthy finished with the excellent figures of 4-42 off 11 overs.

Stogumber’s opening pair were quickly despatched by Toby Brewer before a fine partnership between Simon Penny and Aaron Webster appeared to be taking them to a comfortable victory. Penny continued his excellent season’s form with a splendid half-century but when he was caught off the bowling of Andrew Covey, wickets started to tumble.

Webster played one attacking shot too many and was caught at mid-off and shortly after the home side had slipped to 144 for 7 with Roadwater firm favourites. But in an exciting finish, Hayes (42 not out) and Bennett (28 not out), mixed aggressive shot-making with admirable caution and fine running between the wickets as they took Stogumber over the line.

Roadwater: F Wilson 70, A Lovey 47, J Rexworthy 4-42, S Penny 2-54, L Penny 3-67).

Stogumber: S Penny 54, A Webster 44, E Hayes 42 not out, A Covey 4-67, T Brewer 2-35).

Stogumber: 25 points, Roadwater 8 points.

An opening spell as blistering as the weather by paceman Mark Bryant shattered Over Stowey’s early batting on Saturday.

Bryant struck twice in his opening over and again in his second over to leave the home side reeling at 0 for 3. He claimed another wicket with the score on 26, but a fifth wicket partnership of 47 by S Pickard and L Villis and further runs by P Simms led to a partial recovery.

However, the return of Bryant into the attack put paid to Over Stowey setting a reasonable target. He took a further three wickets to finish with 7 for 47 off 11 overs and his pace and movement off the wicket was emphasised by the fact that all his victims were clean bowled. Special mention must by made of Lee Penny, whose nine overs cost just 17 runs, and Simon Penny who chipped in with two late wickets.

Stogumber’s reply was centred on a very fine undefeated 64 by Robbie Watts. The opener completely dominated the home bowling attack and he struck nine fours to lead his side to the 127 victory target with just four wickets down. P Rich with 2 for 30 off seven overs was the pick of the Over Stowey bowlers.

Over Stowey 126 (S Pickard 32, P Simms 23, M Bryant 7-47, S Penny 2-11).

Stogumber 127-4 (R. Watts 64 not out, J. Rexworthy 16, P Rich 2-30).

Over Stowey 5 points, Stogumber 26 points.

Visitors Bishops Hull were left to rue inserting Stogumber on a wonderful home batting wicket on Saturday.

Stogumber broke various records en route to a mammoth 381-1 in their alloted 40 overs.After the recalled Stuart Thorne cover drove the pacey Matt Chanter for four early sixes on his way to a breezy 41, the highly promising Dan Godfrey was joined by the experienced Simon Penny. The pair plundered the Bishops Hull bowling to all parts on their way to an unbroken partnership of 278 in 27 overs.

Godfrey hit six sixes in a career best 160 not out and Penny unleashed 14 maximums, including five in successive balls,on his way to a spectacular 159 before the innings closed, much to the relief of Bishops Hull’s bedraggled bowlers.

To their credit, J Osmond with 40 and the remaining Bishops Hull batsmen did their best to chase the daunting target but leg spinner Ben Howe ripped out the heart of the innings with 4-36 as they subsided to 108 all out and victory for Stogumber by the very wide margin of 273 runs.

Stogumber 26 points, Bishops Hull 2 points.

A magnificent undefeated century by Simon Penny helped Stogumber to a massive 161-run victory over visitors Churchinford on Saturday. Stogumber racked up a formidable 327-6 in their 40 overs and, despite a breezy century by M Francombe, the visitors slipped to 166 all out.

The visiting captain, who won the toss and elected to bowl, must have thought his decision was the correct one as Stogumber slipped to 31-3. But Penny, who has now scored 482 league runs this season at an average of 80, was once again in supreme form as he notched 24 fours on his way to 125 not out. Captain James Rexworthy helped Penny lead the recovery with an excellent 83 as they put on 158 for the fourth wicket before Brandon Walsh hammered a thrilling 76 which included nine fours and five sixes.

Apart from Francombe’s century, the visitors had no answer to the pace and bounce of the home side’s opening attack of Mark Bryant and Lee Penny. Bryant finished with the excellent figures of 4-23 in nine overs and that man Simon Penny got into the act again, this time with the ball, taking 2-27 in 5.5 overs.

Stogumber 327-6 (S Penny 125 not out, J Rexworthy 83, B Walsh 76).

Churchinford 166 (M Francombe 100, M Bryant 4-23, S Penny 2-21, L Penny 2-80).

Stogumber 26 points, Churchinford 8 points.

A five-wicket , including a hat-trick, by captain James Rexworthy and another fine innings by young Dan Godfrey helped Stogumber to victory at Carhampton on Saturday.

On a bowler-friendly pitch, the home side were bowled out for just 113 in 25.2 overs. After losing early wickets to the pace of Mark Bryant - 2-10 off 7 overs - and the admirable accuracy throughout his 12 overs of Lee Penny, Carhampton’s innings was saved by a buccaneering innings from S Taylor which helped them to their final total. Taylor hit two sixes and five fours on his way to a quickfire 40 and he was given valuable assistance from A Jefferies, who was second top scorer with 15.

The innings subsided after Rexworthy claimed an all-bowled hat-trick, and a fine Brandon Walsh catch in the deep off the bowling of Penny accounted for Taylor in the following over.

Stogumber’s reply got off to a stuttering start and at one stage they appeared to be in danger of losing their unbeaten record. Rexworthy then joined Godfrey in a stand of 45 which changed the course of the game. Godfrey, who had scored an unbeaten 69 the previous week, dominated the bowling and he hit ten fours and two sixes in a chanceless innings. Three splendid straight drives from Walsh wrapped up victory for the visitors.

Carhampton: 113 (S Taylor 40, J Rexworthy 5-45, M Bryant 2-10, L Penny 2-49).

 Stogumber: D Godfrey 57 not out, B Walsh 21 not out, J Rexworthy 19, S Taylor 2-36.

Carhampton 3 points, Stogumber 26 points.