DIVISION ONE
LEADERS Bideford were knocked off their perch by a Filleigh side who were claiming their first win of the campaign!
Batting first it was the Prideaux brothers who took centre stage. Mark hitting 92 and Simon an unbeaten 91 - the pair added 189 for the fourth wicket, and this helped take their side to a close of 248-6.
The morning's leaders were promptly bowled out for 153, with James Hill (3-22), Gary Henry (3-33) and Will Palmer (2-40) doing the damage. Only Matt Allin with 48 offered much resistance and Bideford swap places with new leaders North Devon.
North Molton skipper Tom Wright admitted that there was little chance of his side now going on to win back-to-back Division One Titles after they fell to a second defeat in six outings this term when beaten by a North Devon side who seized the leadership with a three wicket win.
Wright said: “This season I now see very much as one of trying to pin together a “new” side. We are suffering from lack of regular availability and so we might just have to reduce our target for this campaign and concentrate on finding the right balance in a new side.”
North Molton were bowled out for 136, Rob Ayre (27) and Wright (20) being the main contributors whilst the wicket taking duties were shared by Stuart Rhodes (3-26), Martin Gear (2-15), Matt Dart (2-15) and Matt Westaway (2-27), but North Devon made it home for the loss of seven wickets, two of which fell to James Tapp (2-21). Martin Gear (40) and Tom Dart (34) seeing their side to victory and leadership of the First Division with two overs to spare.
Sandford were thwarted by the rain in their bid to push into the top three of the North Devon League when the weather brought a halt to their game with Barnstaple & Pilton with the Creedy Park men well set for a fourth win of the campaign. Sandford were playing the game that marked them having completed half of the seasons fixtures and Richard Tucker certainly enjoyed the occasion as he blasted a huge unbeaten 167 off just 129 balls faced.
Chris Jelly also struck a run-a-ball half-century and the home innings also produced a bizarre dismissal! Paul Smith was going along nicely on 28 when he was struck fiercely by a delivery and as he fell to the ground he levelled the stumps and so, once he had recovered from the “blow” he had to make the long walk back to the pavilion ! The Sandford innings closed on 314-4 and they got the Barum reply under way but called a halt at 33-1 as the weather closed in.
Beaford beat Ilfracombe by seven wickets after bowling the Seasiders out for just 114, two wickets each for Alan James, Ali McMillan and Mark Lake, Beaford got home for the loss of just three men, Geoff Lake (32), McMillan (25) and Martin Barrett (21) and it was Ross Hunter (14no) who saw them to victory.
DIVISION TWO
LEADERS Bradninch continued their relentless charge towards the top Division with a comfortable six wicket-win at Westleigh and it was their Czech-born baseball playing batsman Lucas Fencl again making the headlines, he hit an unbeaten 73 to help his side overhaul the Westleigh offering of 200-5.
The home side's James Ford scored an imperious unbeaten 117, the next best was Danny Tresgaskis's 27, whilst Ross Acton and Ryan Butterworth both picked up a couple of wickets.
Fencl apart there was a useful 42 from Gary Chappell in the Mid Devon side's run chase, John Brewer claimed a wicket double for the losers. Bradninch are now played five, won five and are in good shape to claim the only promotion berth available.
Barnstaple & Pilton's game with Shobrooke Park was ruined by the weather. Barum had posted a score of 160-8, Lee Cole (31no) and Byron Saunders (24no) taking them to something of a respectable total and Shobrooke were 38-0 when the rain brought a halt to the proceedings.
Bratton Fleming were winners over Heathcoat and the in-form Ted Cummings was again in the runs. Cummings hit 93, Adam Payne got 75 and there was a fine 60 from Steve Brazier in the home offering of 286-5, the Mid Devon visitors made a decent fist of the run chase but it fizzled out and closed on 230.
Braunton were hustled out for just 75 by Lynton & Lynmouth who then knocked the runs off for the loss of four wickets. Graham Fitt (3-23), Nick Bowen (2-29), Ed Yeo (2-11) and Matt Ryan (2-9) did the damage with the ball, only Andy Paddison (26) got a decent score and then Gary Jones hit 23 in the run chase, two wickets falling to Chris Brigden.
DIVISION THREE
HOLSWORTHYsaw their 100 per cent start ended at Hatherleigh where the home side scored 226-8 and then bowled out the morning leaders for 150.
Darryl Barnes cracked an excellent 93 and the next highest offering was Tom Rogers's 27 in the home total, Duncan Edwards and Steve Drew both picked up a couple of wickets and then Richard Tidball (3-16) and Tom Rogers (3-39) ensured the end of the Holsworthy winning run.
Morebath had the better of the Mid Devon derby against Tiverton & Bickleigh. Scott Hudson top scored with 28 but there was precious little from his Tiverton team mates in a total of 76, one that Morebath lost five wickets overcoming.
DIVISION FOUR
CHERITON Fitzpaine are into third place in Division Four as they seek back-to-back promotions. Mike Foan hit a top score 60 as he and Phil Cutler (32) were given hard hitting support by Nick Guscott who blasted an unbeaten 40 off just twenty balls faced.
Cheriton closed on 215-8 and then shot out visitors Bratton Fleming for just 84. Ben Coe sent down nine overs and claimed 4-15 whilst the reliable Robbie Keight also picked up three wickets.
Cullompton couldn't raise a side for their game at Victoria Park II and so slip from top spot down to fifth.
But there was action at Lynton & Lynmouth II who floundered against a Victoria Park II side who are up to third courtesy of a 100-run win. Adam Oliver hit 43 Dave Gordon was unbeaten with 37 and Roddy Hannam hit 31 in their side's 185-8 and then Dave Branch picked up three wickets and Paul Tuson a couple as the home side were shot out for 85.
DIVISION FIVE
THE only game in the section was played at Bideford and the home side continued in their winning way after a seven-wicket success over Kelseymen.
The Braunton side were bowled out for just 85, KJ Mushava taking 4-15 and then Alan Withecombe hit 32 in his sides successful run chase. The winners are clear at the top now with a 100 per cent record after five matches.
DIVISION SIX
NEWCOMERS Weare Gifford finally got their Sunday League career off and running. Their opening game had been washed out but they beat the rain, and also Filleigh III to record their first ever victory, winning the game by seven wickets.
There was a double dose of weekend action for Nomansland , on Saturday they completed a great run chase to hunt down North Molton IIs' 225, Henry Hayden hitting a half century in a four-wicket win but the following day they met Title chasing Halberton and went down by a single wicket in a thrilling game of cricket.
The home side opted to bat first and were bowled out for 125 with John Gibson (40), Dave Gooding (16) and Karl Bremmer (16) the main contributors.
Dan Coles had 3-9 and Will Austin 3-42 whilst Henry Franks took 2-6 in three excellent early innings overs.
Two “highlights” were Halberton's Dan Coles clean bowling his Father Chris Coles and then 12 year old Jack Searle finishing off the home innings with his first Senior XI wicket taken with only his third delivery.
Chris Cole (2-36) and Karl Bremmer (2-12) had the Halberton reply in trouble and the Rodney Bowden haul of 4-12 also looked to swing the game the home sides way but the visitors were not to be denied and with the final overs starting Halberton required five runs to win and Shaun O'Livey (6no) kept his nerve and young Searle had the final word as he capped a memorable Senior debut by hitting the winning run with just two balls to spare.