TEMPLE Cloud’s eagerly awaited top-of-the-table showdown with Yeovil in the Somerset Division of the West of England Premier Cricket League ended in frustration as persistent rain forced the match to be abandoned, cutting short what had promised to be a thrilling contest.

Winning the toss and choosing to bat, Temple Cloud made a strong start, reaching 157-2 at the drinks break. Lucas Hales looked in fine touch with a fluent 44, while Gary Filer added a confident 43. Charlie Ward chipped in with a valuable 22. However, the game took a sharp turn after the break. Yeovil’s bowlers capitalised on the increasingly overcast conditions, sparking a collapse that saw Temple lose their last eight wickets for just 35 runs, finishing on a modest 192 all out.

Yeovil’s reply got off to a cautious start under increasingly ominous skies. They reached 71-4 after 16 overs, with Temple Cloud sensing a real opportunity to push for a crucial win. But the weather intervened decisively. Heavy rain returned and rendered the outfield unplayable. With no sign of improvement, the match was abandoned, leaving both sides to rue what might have been.

Despite the disappointment, Temple Cloud maintain their place at the top of the league with a 17-point cushion over their closest rivals.

Meanwhile, Temple Cloud’s 2nd XI travelled to face Wedmore 2nd XI, hoping to avoid the weather disruptions that plagued the 1st XI. Play started on time, with Wedmore choosing to bat after winning the toss. Temple made early inroads, reducing the hosts to 13-2. However, a solid partnership between Patch and Wood helped steady the innings. After Patch departed, Wood continued to anchor the innings impressively, eventually scoring a brilliant 107. Temple chipped away with wickets, but Wedmore ended on a strong 232-7 in a rain-affected innings.

In reply, Temple lost Appleyard early and continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. Brooks and Raisbeck staged a brief fightback, guiding the visitors to 83-3 at the halfway mark. However, further rain shortened Temple’s chase, shifting the balance toward a possible draw. The middle order faltered, leaving Arbery and an unbeaten Brooks (58*) to bat out the remaining overs and secure a draw.

While Wedmore may feel unlucky not to have secured a win, Temple’s resilience kept them firmly in the title race. The draw sees both sides take valuable points, with Temple continuing to challenge at the top and Wedmore gaining ground in their battle near the bottom.