Nailsea Firsts returned to winning ways by three wickets at Stapleton Thirds on a warm afternoon in Bristol & District's 10th Division last Saturday. 

Nailsea asked their opponents to have first knock and took wickets at regular intervals, with no batter in the Stapleton side scoring more than 28.

Captain James Taylor took 1-17 from five  overs, Dave Wade 1-7, Ian Moorcroft 1-30 and Harry Welsman 1- 11 but it was spinners Zarweis Safi and Rupert Kelly who did most of the damage with excellent spells of 3-32 and 3-22 respectively as Nailsea bowled out Stapleton for 175 in 33 overs.

Nailsea openers Gary Phippen (11) and Kelly (24) got Nailsea off to a decent start, but once they departed together with the inform Neilesh Vaz for six, the innings required a steadying influence. 

That didn’t happen as David Wade with a rapid 55, including four maximums from just 36 deliveries, and Harry Welsman with an equally useful 27 from 19 balls, set the game up for Nailsea. 

The pair added 80 in no time and with Ian Moorcroft adding 22 and Max Davies 7, it was left to Taylor (8 not out) and Chris Clarke to see Nailsea home with nearly 16 overs to spare. The win leaves Nailsea a single point off top spot, with Clevedon Thirds next week’s visitors to The Grove.