THE North Somerset Cricket Conference side suffered defeat in the final of the County Representative championships on Sunday.

North Somerset lost the toss and were put in to bat on a damp wicket by Derbyshire at Knowle.

The hosts floundered in the rain and suffered a loss of early wickets before finishing on 162-8 from their 40 overs.

Derbyshire successfully completed their chase after fending off North Somerset's desperate attempts to take the early wickets they needed to complete the three-game winning streak which would have seen them land the silverware.

The visitors reached their target with 12 overs to spare and for the loss of just one wicket.

North Somerset were always facing an uphill task when opening pair Darren Weeks and Krish Kumar were both back in the pavilion with just 18 on the board.

Weeks was gone after just nine balls when edging the ball on to the stumps for a duck. Kumar was lbw for just 12 soon after.

Skipper Mick Edmunds was caught behind for 15 but Chris Bence offered determined resistance with a well crafted 48 that saw him survive in the wake of lower order batsmen Adam Whiting (7) and Dave Millard (24).

Bence was then bowled two short of his half-century during what was a blossoming partnership with Marshall Clements.

The duo added 23 in their five overs together before Clements was joined by Nick Doherty for the final stand. The Wrington pair hammered 28 from the final three overs to reach 162.

The only joy North Somerset experienced in the field came when Edmunds had a catch snapped by Clements when Derbyshire were on 101 without loss.