NORTH DEVON LEAGUE - WEEK EIGHT
DIVISION ONE
SANDFORD were beaten for the first time this season when they lost by a whopping 136 run margin at Lynton & Lynmouth .
The home side closed on 303-8 led by number six bat Dave Proctor (76), Lloyd Ali also hit a half century and there was a useful cameo from Ben Pitkin of 34. Proctor was particularly harsh on Simon Ashplant who he hit for 25 in one over. Ashplant was his sides top wicket taker with 3-85 in eight overs whilst Pete Steer had 2-52. Ashplant hit a sparkling 62 in the reply but the die was cast early in the innings when Nick Bowen took a hat-trick to remove batsmen 1, 3 and 4 to rip the heart out of the visiting line up. Discombe, Mostert and Lee were the unfortunate trio to go as Bowen finished with 5-44, Pitkin took 3-14 and the morning leaders were bowled out for 167.
The Sandford slip leaves Filleigh as the only top flight side to remain unbeaten after eight weeks of the season. They defeated visiting Bideford by three wickets thanks to a near two runs a ball innings from Jamie Hill who blasted an unbeaten 62 from just 38 deliveries. Bideford had batted first and scored a decent total of 233-6 led by Jack Hocking who was dropped three times, once by Jamie Palmer who eventually got his man, bowling him one shy of a deserved century off the final ball of the innings. Alec Hodges (54) and no fewer than 47 extras helped boost the Bideford cause. Jaz Kalsi hit a slick 53 at the top of the order and Mark Prideaux chipped in with 24 but at 146-7 the run chase was in some trouble before the crash bang wallop from Hill who, together with Toby Lockhead (16no), added the 91 runs to reach the winning line and outright leadership of the First Division.
It was a good day for bottom of the table Bradninch as they finally recorded a first victory of the season with a comprehensive 73 run win over Victoria Park at Keynsham Park. The in form Gary Chappell was caught on the boundary just two short of a century but teenage batsman Joe Webb, who hit an unbeaten half century the day before in the Francis Clark Devon League Premier Divison, thumped a mighty impressive unbeaten 121. Webb and Chappell added 190 for the 3 rd wicket and with skipper Elliot Acton adding a late 30 to go with the early runs from Richard Foan (31); the home side closed their innings on 308-5. The visitors got off to a flyer and looked well on course but once the first couple of wickets fell the remainder fell at regular intervals as Foan, Chappell, the skipper, and Matthew Jarrett, all bagged braces in a reply that closed on 235, 87 of which were hit quite excellently by Marc Bettis.
DIVISION TWO
MORNING leaders Morebath returned down the North Devon Link Road with their unbeaten record in tatters after a nine wicket mauling at Barnstaple & Pilton where the home side bundled out the Mid Devon visitors for 173 and promptly knocked them off for the loss of a single wicket.
James Mayes (75) held the visitor's innings together as Malki Metters (3-22), Matt Clarke (3-19) and Steve Moor (2-9) did the damage with the ball. When Barum batted it became something of a stroll led by the impressive George McEndoo with an unbeaten 71 and a fine 56 from Michael Paine.
Beaford went down by four wickets to Hatherleigh in another game that saw a player miss out on a century by the narrowest of margins. The hosts closed on 219-6 led by Alistair McMillan (99) who was caught at mid wicket off a full toss when looking to punch the ball down field to reach his century. Alan James chipped in with 56, he and McMillan put on 156 for the 3 rd wicket. Rob Fishleigh was the pick of the bowlers with 3-26. Richard Tidball the stroked his side to victory with an imperious unbeaten 80, Alan James got two of the visitor's wickets to fall but victory was reached at 220-6.
Braunton are back on top after a sixth win in seven outings, comfortably beating hosts Holsworthy by five wickets. The home side were bowled out for 170 although the story of this game is the performance, with the ball, of an Australian batsmen who only bowls occasionally! Matt Harival is charged with scoring runs for Braunton this term and they have rarely called upon his leg spin but in this game they did and he promptly took 7-11 including a hat-trick! The complete Harival spell lasted 6.1 overs. Andrew Layton top scored with 44 and John Tidball hit 33 for the home side. When the visitors batted Barney Huxtable (68), an unbeaten 44 from Brady Saunders and an unbeaten knock of 34 from that man Harival saw them to a five wicket win.
DIVISION THREE
LEADERS Incorrigibles remain 100% after a 5 th straight win thanks to a seven-wicket success at Bude where the home side were bowled out for 163. Andrew De Rosa (56) and Tristan Dutoit (49) got the bulk of the home runs as James Hope (2-15) returned the best bowling figures.
Martin Kidd then hit an unbeaten 58 and Karl Bremmer an unbeaten 32, to see the Mid Devon side passed the winning line. Mark Purcell claimed two of the three visiting wickets to fall.
Ilfracombe were bowled out for 73 by Westleigh for whom Richard Pearson took 5-18, Chris Brown also picked up three wickets whilst the top batsmen for the hosts was Jamie Matthews with 27.The reply was in all sorts of trouble at 36-8 but then the tail wagged to such a degree that it became touch and go at the end, the final Westleigh wicket falling to a run out with their side just four short of a remarkable victory – and all this with 30 overs of the contest to play! Chris Brown, Matt Wilson and Sean Downing were the tail ender ‘nearly men' for the visitors whilst the home side will point to the exploits with the ball of Mark Cavanagh (5-14) and Dan Brierley (3-18) as the reason for the ultimate home victory by just four runs.
Ollie Hunt (71no) and Robin Hunt (30) were the principle run getters for Bratton Fleming II in a total of 162 at North Devon II for whom Jack Ashmore took 5-34 in nine overs. Runs then from Ricky Clarke (42), Rob Hearn (35), Matt Dart (32) and Tom Stanton (20), as the Instow side secured a 7 wicket win.
DIVISION FOUR
CHERITON Fitzpaine quickly put the previous weeks defeat to bed with a superb seven wicket success over visiting Bideford II.
Only Weeks (36) and Jack Perham (27) were able to make any sort of impression in the scorebook as Ben Coe whipped up steam to take 4-11 from 7.2 fine overs. John Pitts chipped in with 2-5 and the visiting side were all back in the pavilion with 97 on the board. The ever green Mike Foan, who had missed the previous weeks defeat at Victoria Park II, top scored with 40 and unbeaten knocks from Pitts (20) and Coe (10), saw the Cherries to a comfortable victory.
Halberton recorded back to back successes for the first time this season with a Dan Coles inspired 13 run win at Newton Tracey II. Coles followed up his previous days Devon League E Division unbeaten half century with 68 not out and Greg Maher chipped in with 61. Mark Cowling was the pick of the bowlers with 3-36 as the visiting side closed on 237-7. Andy Chatham then led the run chase with 59 and Cowling completed a fine all round game with an unbeaten 42 but Coles (3-20) and Thomas Radley (3-50), combined to great effect to ensure the trip back to Mid Devon was happy one for Coles and his men.
DIVISION FIVE
NEWCOMERS Belstone continue to dominate the basement Division and they remain 100% after a nine wicket stroll over visiting Nomansland.
The Witheridge side were restricted to 122-9 as only Jake McDonald (21) and Ashley Wreford (20) made any serious indent into the score book. Thomas Booker bagged brace for the home side who raced to victory in just 23 overs led by skipper Scott Tremaine's unbeaten 67.
Pete Guest top scored with 35 to lead Heathcoat II to their first win of the season at the expense of Bude II who could only muster 137 as Ben Hall and Lee Dixon both claimed three wickets. Then Knightshayes men then lost just four wickets in the successful run chase, closing the game out on 138-4.
North Molton saw off visiting Filleigh III by 48 runs. Guy Loosemore (46), James Tapp (34) and Charlie Downes (32no) were the supporting acts to a fine unbeaten half century from Pete Davis as the home side closed on 251-6. Charlie Popplewell (43), and Arthur Prosser (40), played their parts in a run chase that finally ended on 203-7.
Division One
Bideford 233-6 (J Hocking 99, A Hodges 54, extras 47; J Palmer 2-34, J Hickman 2-44), Filleigh 237-7 (J Hill 62no, J Kalsi 53, M Prideaux 24, T Lockhead 16no; M Barrett 2-37, D Staddon 2-39). Filleigh (20pts) bt Bideford (7) by 3 wkts.
Lynton & Lynmouth 303-8 (D Proctor 76, L Ali 56, B Pitkin 34; S Ashplant 3-85, P Steer 2-52), Sandford 167 (S Ashplant 62, R Discombe 21; N Bowen 5-44, B Pitkin 3-14). Lynton & Lynmouth (20pts) bt Sandford (2) by 136 runs.
Bradninch 308-5 (J Webb 121no, G Chappell 98, R Foan 31, E Acton 30), Victoria Park 235 (N Bettis 87; R Foan 2-35, M Jarrett 2-40). Bradninch (20pts) bt Victoria Park (6) by 73 runs.
Division Two
Morebath 173 (J Mayes 75, A Hooper 36; M Metten 3-22, M Clarke 3-19, S Moore 2-7), Barnstaple & Pilton 174-1 (G McEndoo 71no, M Paine 56, L Cole 19no). Barnstaple & Pilton (20pts) bt Morebath (1) by 9 wkts.
Beaford 219-6 (A McMillan 99, A James 56; R Fishleigh 3-26), Hatherleigh 220-6 (R Tidball 80no, R Davies 46, S Dillon 35; A James 2-32). Hatherleigh (20pts) bt Beaford (6) by 4 wkts.
Holsworthy 170 (A Layton 44, J Tidball 33, L McDonnell 30; M Harival 7-11), Braunton 171-5 (B Huxtable 68, B Saunders 44no, M Harival 34no). Braunton (20pts) bt Holsworthy (5) by 5 wkts.
Division Three
Bude 163 (A De Rosa 56, T Dutoit 49; J Hope 2-15), Incorrigibles 164-3 (M Kidd 58no, K Bremmer 32no; M Purcell 2-49). Incorrigibles (20pts) bt Bude (3) by 7 wkts.
Ilfracombe 73 (J Matthews 27; R Pearson 5-18), Westleigh 69 (C Brown 10, M Wilson 10; M Cavanagh 5-14). Ilfracombe (20pts) bt Westleigh (10) by 4 runs.
Bratton Fleming II 162 (O Hunt 71no, R Hunt 30; J Ashmore 5-34), North Devon II 165-3 (R Clarke 42, R Hearn 35, M Dart 32, T Stanton 20). North Devon II (20pts) bt Bratton Fleming II (3) by 7 wkts.
Division Four:
Bideford II 97 (J Weeks 36, J Perham 27; B Coe 4-11, J Pitts 2-5), Cheriton Fitzpaine 98-3 (M Foan 40, J Pitts 20no). Cheriton Fitzpaine (20pts) bt Bideford II (3) by 7 wkts.
Halberton 237-7 (D Coles 68no, G Maher 61; M Cowling 3-26), Newton Tracey II 224 (A Chatham 59, M Cowling 42no; D Coles 3-20, T Radley 3-50). Halberton (20pts) bt Newton Tracey II (10) by 13 runs.
North Devon III 189-8, Weare Giffard 190-6 – no other details received. Weare Giffard (20pts) bt North Devon III (6) by 4 wkts.
Divison Five:
Nomansland 122-9 (J McDonald 21, A Wreford 20; T Boother 2-10), Belstone 123-1 (S Tremaine 67no, R Drake 28). Belstone (20pts) bt Nomansland (1) by 9 wkts.
Bude II 137, Heathcoat II 138-4 – no other details received. Heathcoat II (20pts) bt Bude II (4) by 6 wkts.
North Molton 251-6 (P Davis 59no, G Loosemore 46, J Tapp 34), Filleigh III 203-7 (C Popplewell 43, A Prosser 40). North Molton (20pts) bt Filleigh III (8) by 48 runs.
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