There are few days when there is no cricket at the Convent Field. Cup success adds to the already weighty schedule of league and representative games that poses an annual headache for head groundsman Pete Barton and his team. From a club perspective, it is a good problem to have.

Last Thursday saw the club’s U.19 side, the Deane Diamonds, win against Ilminster to book a place for finals day at Lansdown. On Monday evening, the Deane U.16 side played Midsomer Norton in the Somerset Smash semi-final. After an edgy start the Deane team pulled through and will join the Diamonds at Lansdown on September 6. The club will have to book a bigger bus and hope it will be open top!

Saturday saw all six Deane sides in action and with ambitions to be fulfilled.

Taunton St Andrew’s 2nd team may be facing relegation but there was no sign of resignation when they came across the meadow to play the top of the table Deane side. Marcus Sapiecha (98) and Jack McManus (67) were the main contributors to a final total of 255 from the 45 overs. An asking rate of more than 5 an over was one that the Deane grasped with relish.

The total was passed in the 35th over with captain and opening bat, Josh Cobb, on 120. Nic Viljoen (58) played yet another crucial innings and the second wicket partnership of 136 was the core of the innings.

Other results in the Somerset Premier League leave next Saturday’s game as a fine way to end the season. The Deane 2nds will travel to Butleigh, a delightful cricket ground with a welcoming group of players and supporters. Currently the Deane are top with 469 points and Butleigh are second with 453. Deane supporters look forward to next Saturday evening’s report. This Deane 2nd team has been outstanding throughout the season. Leadership from Josh Cobb and Alfie Jaques has been exemplary and the mix of youth and experience has been too powerful for most sides.

The reports this Saturday evening had more than one captain claiming to have seen the best catch of the season, the tightest spell of bowling or the finest straight drive. Win or lose, it was clear that all six teams had laughed and smiled through a very enjoyable day’s cricket and each side has a pride in representing the club.

The 3rds are now specialists in close finishes and managed another win away at 3rd place Chard where they faced a former Deane player in Dan Parsons. Chard’s 180 was probably a par score but looked a deal better than that when the Deane slumped to 31-4. 92 runs later Ed Warren was stumped for 42 but confident his partnership with Leon Dunne had steadied the ship. Leon departed 20 runs later for a very valuable 47. Cole Norman (26*) and James Tier (25*) failed to follow in the footsteps of many Deane middle orders and finished the job in the 36th over. The Deane 3rds would have many supporters for a claim to be the Deane Saturday team of the year for the way they have fought for every point in this highly competitive league.

Others, however, might claim that the Deane 1sts, newly promoted to WEPL (Bristol & Somerset) could make a claim as they are now guaranteed a top three place. They travelled to Golden Hill in north Bristol and saw a steady start from the home side before Sam Brooks was well taken in the slips by Ed Mellor off the bowling of Jason Squire with the score on 51.

Six wickets then fell for just 34 runs as Golden Hill found themselves 85-6. At this point and for no obvious reason, the Deane momentum eased and, with a spate of extras, the home side staged something of a recovery. When Edward Bourdeaux was caught by Ralph Dunne off the bowling of Jack Blackwell for 37, the pressure returned and the Deane went to tea knowing that 179 would give them the 20 points to keep hold of second place.

It was Jack Blackwell who left the field with another impressive bowling performance under his belt. Building on last week’s performance and then exceeding it, Jack took six wickets for 42 runs.

Harry Smith and Bertie Michael gave the Deane the reassuring start they wanted and Bertie’s dismissal for 44 – which included two successive reverse sweeps for 4 that were exquisitely executed – was a complete surprise as was Harry’s when he decided to stroll down the wicket and was stumped.

Tenny Harlow and Sakuna Liyanage purred along with their running between the wickets ensuring a constant movement of the scoreboard. They remained unbeaten on 40 and 43 as the total was passed in the 33rd over.

Back at the clubhouse Jason Squire had no hesitation in naming Jack the 1st XI Player of the Day.

The last game of the season for the 1sts is back home at the Convent Field where the guests are Taunton St Andrew’s who have ensured their place in the league for next season. League positions mean little in derby games but bragging rights that will last through the long winter are greatly valued.

A win for the Deane would confirm their second place in the league table behind the deserved champions, Lansdown.

All the preparation, all the organisation and administration, all the winter training for juniors and seniors, all the support from so many sponsors of the club and individual players, all those thousands of hours of voluntary hours from so many - all of that have allowed hundreds of players to have a great summer of cricket.

There is still some of that cricket to enjoy and then the business of getting ready for 2027 begins!

Dave Smith.