Commend the Meerkats

Nailsea Rounders Club (The Meerkats) finished off a successful season with a win at home. The season's new rules – a change from two 25 ball innings to the 'all out system' - seemed to suit the club well, and the Meerkats finished the season with three wins and just one loss.

Weston 22 -30 Nailsea

This year Nailsea started away against Weston Seagulls and it proved to be a very good start to the season. The captains agreed on a 30 minute timed innings and Nailsea batted first, notching up an impressive tally of 30 rounders with three batters left in, thanks to Emma Weaver, Ceri Manton and Holly Manton all scoring 4.5, Gemma Butt notching up 5 and top scorer Rachel Mason getting 8. Weston then took their turn at bat but only scored 10.5 before Nailsea got the team out, so were forced to follow on. Weston's second innings was much better, and they forced the Meerkats to work hard, but they couldn't score enough to beat Nailsea in the 30 minutes and Nailsea won the game 30-22, having only batted once.

Nailsea 36- 31 Clevedon

The second game was against Clevedon at home. The captains agreed a timed innings of 25 minutes and it was a close fought game, with Nailsea again batting until the maximum time limit in their first innings and scoring 18 rounders with four left in. Nailsea managed to get Clevedon out before the time limit and went on to bat again, scoring a further 18 with four left in at the end of the time limit. Clevedon's second innings was much better, but thanks to some lovely outs on first post by Gemma Butt and Lucy Emery, some excellent fielding by Louise Weaver, Ceri Manton and Rachel Mason and the steady bowling arm of Rose Lancaster, Nailsea were again victorious, with a final score of 36 to Clevedon's 31. Top scorers were Lucy Emery and Rachel Mason, both scored 7.

Clevedon 28 -27.5 Nailsea

The third match – against Clevedon away - was the closest fought of the season. Timed innings of 25 minutes was agreed, and Nailsea batted first, but despite some lovely hits, Clevedon's excellent fielding proved difficult to shake and Nailsea had just 11 by the end of the first innings with two batters left in. Clevedon then went into bat, and scored an impressive 15.5 but Nailsea stopped the tally rising any further thanks to the bowling/backstop team of Lucy Emery and Rose Lancaster, excellent catches by Gemma Butt, Rowan Webber and Sally Kingston and strong out fielding by Laura Lock, Rachel Mason, Louise Weaver and Ceri Manton. Nailsea then took to bat again, and did much better in the second innings, taking their score up to 16.5, many of which were scored by Gina Provis who was left in on her own for some time. But Clevedon were stronger on the day and in their second innings, with just a few minutes to spare, overtook Nailsea by the half rounder they needed to take the match 28- 27.5. Highest scorer for the Meerkats was Gina Provis with 8.5.

Nailsea 37.5- 36.5 Weston

The final game was against a much improved Weston team at home. It was a lovely game, competitive but friendly, with everyone determined to hit well on the last game. Weston batted first and scored an impressive 21.5 – the score would have been higher if it weren't for the excellent bowling of Rose Lancaster and some lovely out fielding by Emma Weaver, Ceri Manton, Rowan Webber and Kerrie Turton received well in field by Angie Harris and Elizabeth Milne. Nailsea then went in to bat, scoring 23 in their first innings with four batters left in after the 30 minutes. Weston had an even stronger second innings, and left Nailsea with 36.5 to beat. Still behind by a rounder, Nailsea had just two batsman and only a few minutes to spare, but managed to keep their cool and score the rounder needed to clinch the match 37.5 – 36.5. The highest scorer was Rachel Mason with 11.5

Nailsea Meerkats would like to thank team coach and umpire Richard Lancaster for all his help this season.