MINEHEAD Cricket Club’s First XI may be sitting at the bottom of the Somerset Division of the WEPL but among their ranks they have some very talented young players who are making the most of their opportunity to play at this level .

Spearheading the Minehead attack in a recent game were two 16 year olds, Oliver Groves and Alfie Rucklidge, the youngest opening duo in the division.

Playing in a game at Wembdon Groves, who hails from Minehead and goes to school at King’s College in Taunton, claimed a wicket with the first ball of the match when he accounted for their player coach Harry Everett.

Oliver has played all of his cricket for Minehead starting with the junior age groups and attended the Middle School before moving onto King’s College.

A week later against Bridgwater Seconds it was Alfie, who lives in Williton and attends Queens College in Taunton who had Andrew Hallaran caught by Anan Rajan off the first ball of the match.

The pair have certainly not been fazed by opening the bowling in the Somerset Division. In fact they have risen to the challenge, and to date Alfie has bowled 32 overs, five of which have been maidens and taken eight wickets at an average of 21.63, while Oliver has bowled 47 overs, with four maidens and claimed 11 wickets at an average of 22.27.

Last season Alfie, who is coached at Queen’s College by former Somerset favourite Mark Davis who started his career with Kilve CC, was playing his cricket in the West Somerset Cricket League for Brompton Ralph. However he was looking to advance his game so was recommended to Minehead by Davis.

Another talented youngster is Jonah Hopkins a wicket- keeper batter who in his 14 matches to date in 2024 has hit 346 runs with a best of 107, his second century for the club, and boasts an average of 24.71.

Jonah is a local boy who has come up through the Minehead CC junior age groups and opening the innings with his captain scored 28 off 30 balls and remained out in the middle until the 10th overs when was third batter out with the score on 75

First team captain Dan Bowditch said: “Both Alfie and Oliver are lovely lads and have settled into the team brilliantly. They both have some real talent, Alfie looks an excellent opening bowler, and has caused a number of batters some real problems in the last few games. And I think Oliver will be a handy all rounder when he gets some more experience under his belt.”

Dan added: “Along with Jonah Hopkins, they are definitely the future of our club if we can keep hold of them.”