A gripping game saw Taunton St Andrews run out victorious by 22 runs in the season’s first derby at The Wyvern last Saturday.

Having lost the toss and asked to bowl The Deane were pleased to see the ball nipping around in the early overs and Liam Redrup was rewarded with the wickets of Martin Jenkins and Joel Harden. However, teenage opener Ed Byrom remained unmoved at the other end and began to move the scoreboard along nicely with George Dockrell in at four.

Byrom used his feet well against The Deane spinners and the organised left hander reached a well deserved fifty shortly before the drinks break. Dockrell at the other end was in the mood to attack and after a couple of reprieves took a liking to the Deane bowlers in reaching his own fifty in typically aggressive fashion, lofting the spin of John Rogers over The Wyvern.

After one shot too many Dockrell fell to Luke Whitear who produced a good ball nipping back down the slope to castle the Irishman. Dave Reading joined Byrom and hit a brisk 21 before being caught behind off Russell Jones. Kevin Parson, who survived a ferocious LBW appeal first ball made 10 before also falling to Jones, caught by Rob Woodman.

Whitear now in his second spell then accounted for opener Harden, LBW, for a brilliant 67. Robbie Contrearas (17) and Lloyd Alley (29) helped push to score beyond 200 before both being bowled to Redrup and Pryke. James Hayman finished on 10 not out as Liam Redrup finished with 4-24 from 10 after accounting for Deven Bell caught well by Luke Whitear on the fourth attempt as Saint Andrews posted 257 all out in 49.3 overs.

After tea the Deane reply got off to another solid start with Sam Loud looking particularly fluent and strong down the ground. The Saints openers always retained an element of control, showing good discipline in hitting a good line and length with the ball still offering something with the new ball. Rob Woodman was first to fall, caught behind by keeper Harden off the bowling of James Hayman for 7.

This brought danger man John Rogers to the crease, fresh off the back of two hundreds the weekend before the Aussie was in a bullish mood. Keen to take advantage of his good form, he soon got to work lofting Luke Tomkins high over the boundary for an obligatory maximum. With Loud laying solid foundations at the other end and Rogers looking dangerous, The Saints turned to the leg spin of Deven Bell. It paid almost immediate dividends as much to the vociferous delight of the home side, Rogers was well held at long off by Dave Reading advancing down the wicket for 25.

What followed turned the game, having been well placed at 96-2, The Deane fell to 106-6. Sam Loud LBW to Bell for 42, Sam Shaikh (6) was run out in a horrible mixup, Ali Warren strangled down the leg side by George Dockrell for no score and Calvin Harrison (5) also run out.

Harry Thomas and Russell Jones set about the recovery. Thomas cool and calculated against the spin of Bell, Dockrell and Contrears whilst Jones was effective against anything short or overpitched. A mammoth six off the returning James Hayman by Jones seem to signal a change in momentum and the target of 258, once out of sight now seemed possibly within reach.

At just over 35 overs gone and the target 70 runs within reach both results remained possible. A deafly silence fell across the ground and the game was coming to the boil nicely when the balance tipped again, this time in the favour of the home team when Thomas was caught looking to attack against Contreras for 51. He had dragged The Deane back into the contest.

Thomas was replaced by brother in law Liam Redrup and he had no hesitation in putting Dockrell over the Wyvern a couple of times to keep Deane up with the rate. With Jones at the other end continuing to find the boundary, the Deane remained in the game.

However, the game turned again further to Saints when Jones was well held by Ed Byrom for 34 looking to put Contreras into Bishops Foxes school. The Saints sensed they were home and this was confirmed as Redrup was bowled by Lloyd Alley for a valuable 28. Robe Pryke was last man to fall for 2, stumped off the bowling of Contrears as Deane finished 22 runs short with 5 balls left.

Pick of the Saints bowlers was Deven Bell (2-20) from eight who bowled with great control and consistency in the crucial middle overs to precipitate the middle order collapse that the Deane will rue so costly.

With the Saints now top of the table and The Deane pushed back to fourth, the return fixture in July promises to be a mouth watering encounter where both teams and supporters will be hoping of a repeat contest that had showcased the talent and pride of the towns’ premier clubs so well.