RESULTS
WEEK SEVEN - MAY 24
CHAMPIONS Sandford are once again nestling on top spot in the First Division after a 45-run win at Newton Tracey where they had the all-round skills of Ryan Glass and Tianne Mostert to thanks for the victory.
Mostert top scored with 66 whilst Glass chipped in with 49 as the mid-Devon side closed on 232-6. Matt Tozer was the most successful home bowler with 2-39 and then only Simon Gear (60) and Ian Gear (30) were able to make inroads into the visiting bowling as Glass claimed 4-54 in half a dozen overs and Mostert took 3-16 in five lively overs.
So Sandford, four games in, remain unbeaten with Filleigh the only other top flight side still to taste defeat.
North Devon, champions two years ago and runners-up last season, have now lost two of their first four this term after the went down by five wickets at Instow against a Victoria Park side who look very capable of staying the distance in the title race.
Scott Amoss (41), Craig Overton (40) and Jamie Overton (37) led the run scoring in a total of 226-6. Both Paul Tuson and Tom Anderson bagged braces of wickets for Victoria Park who then took on, and completed, a successful run chase closing the game out on 230-5. Marc Bettis led the way with 81 and Neil Bettis hit 38. Stuart Rhodes, who had a rare off day with the bat, was the pick of the home bowlers with 2-33.
Lynton & Lynmouth were only able to muster eight men for their game at Bideford but the hardy few gave their all as the home batsmen made hay in the Sunday afternoon sun shine.
Alec Hodges hit an unbeaten 115 and there were other contributions from Chris Luxton (52), Pete Stevens (41), Ian Haytor (38no) and William Barrett (37). Ian Hobbs claimed 2-55 for Lynton & Lynmouth who replied with a battling 167 when the last of their seven wickets fell. Steve Hunt top scored with 52 and for the home side the main wicket takers were 17 year old Josh King (2-30) and Martin Barrett, who sent down 15 balls and returned figures of 2-11.
Bradninch, who had to cancel their previous game owing to a lack of personnel, managed to field 10 for their home game with fellow Mid Devon side Heathcoat who batted first and prospered heavily, racking up a total of 304-8 thanks mainly to a superb 122 from skipper Pete Randerson.
Quazim Adams (45), Matt Parkes (28) and Tom Frankpitt (20) also made contributions whilst the pick of the home bowlers were teenagers Matt Jarrett (3-56) and Nick Dean (2-44).
Joel Murphy led the resistance with 35 but Chris Dean (22) apart wickets fell at regular intervals with the innings closing on 163. Martyn Williams (4-33) and John Harvey (2-29) did the main damage with the ball.
Division Two
BEAFORD won a thrilling encounter at Bratton Fleming, their first success of the season and that was sufficient to lift them off the foot of the table and climb some four places. Ali McMillan hit his second successive half century with a top score of 87 and there were useful contributions from Mark Lake (34) and Geoff Lake (28) in a Beaford total of 222-7. Pete Simmons (4-42) and Oli Hunt (2-21) were the pick of the home bowlers. The run chase was always on but wickets fell at regular intervals too and when the final Bratton Fleming wicket fell it signalled a 16 run win for the visitors. Steven Ayre batted superbly for 69 and James Tapp hit 40 but Mark Lake (4-36) and D Lane (4-36) bowled their side to that much needed first victory of the season.
Rob Venn had a decent day with bat and ball, and he held a stunning catch too as Morebath maintained their 100% start to life in Division Two with a 62 run win at Filleigh II where they bowled the home side out for 141 after scoring 203 themselves. Steve Kelland provided the biggest single score for the visitors with 78 and then Venn claimed 3-15 as well as taking a superb catch to add to his earlier cameo knock of 28.
Division Three
Shebbear batsman Martin Bray is currently averaging over a century each time he takes to the middle for the early season Division Three leaders. Bray was finally out just three shy of a double century after cracking no fewer than twenty 6's as Shebbear racked up a whopping 331-9 at home to Ilfracombe who they then bundled out for 93 to win by an amazing 238 runs!
Jamie Pengelly (44) and Tom Stone (38) were the other batsmen to make hay in the Saturday sunshine. Bray had hit 191 at Sandford II last month and with his only two other outings seeing him chalk up 66 and 23 it means that he already has 477 runs to his name at a current average of 119.33.
Westleigh won for the first time this term and with that moved four places from the foot of the table after a comprehensive nine wicket win at home to Barnstaple & Pilton II. Barum never recovered from Richard Pearson's opening three wicket burst that had the visitors on 5-3. Steve Wheatley did some damage repair with 26 but Neil Merrick came on to claim 4-12 and with James Corry taking 2-10 the innings was done and dusted for 97. James Ford then carried his bat for an unbeaten 42, Danny Tresgaskis was the other not out batsman with 8 whilst the one bat to return to the pavilion was Corry who struck 35 to add to his earlier brace of wickets.
Division Four
Victoria Park knocked leaders Cheriton Fitzpaine off the top spot in a thrilling encounter. Two overs from home Victoria Park required 18 to win then contest with four wickets in hand but 18 runs were spanked by Mark Slade (39no) and Mike Harris (27no) in the penultimate over to deem the final over surplus to requirements as the home side claimed a four wicket win.
The Mid Devon side had batted first and were three down with only 34 on the board when David Carr strode out to join Phil Cutler in the middle. The pair kept their wickets intact throughout and walked off with the score board registering 235-3. Cutler was unbeaten on 87 and Carr not out 79 with the pair adding 201 for the unbroken 4 th wicket. Mark Stevens, Mike Brown and Jamie Mead claimed wickets whilst Mike Harris sent down nine accurate overs which yielded just a wide and an edged four – seven of his overs were maidens! Tim Lane led the successful run chase with 48, Mark Stevens (28), Matt Denis (22) and Stewart Russell (21) all chipped in before Slade and Harris saw their side to victory – Harris spanking a brace of 6's in that penultimate over to seal the win.
Kelseymen beat visiting Newton Tracey II by 13 runs in a close encounter at Braunton. The home side posted a healthy score of 222-8 led by Ross Burbidge with 80. Harry Booker gave good support with 29 and Paul Jaggers chipped in with 27. Matthew Warren (3-53), John Brewer (3-40) and Colin Wadsworth (2-29) claimed the wickets for the visitors who were then bowled out for 209 despite a wonderful unbeaten 86 from Nick Parkin.
The only other batsman to prosper was Connor Nash with 28. Harry Brooker, Martin Lewis and John Lethbridge each took two wickets for the home side.
Dan Barker had a fine all round game for Halberton as they beat visiting Bideford by 35 runs. Barker top scored with 46 and other useful contributions came from Tom Radley (26), Greg Maher (23) and Mike Turner (18) in a total of 189-9. Dave Hart, who had claimed a couple of wickets, then top scored with 45 in the reply that was all over on 154. Barker's right arm seamers accounting for 5-15 in 9 splendid overs.
Division Five
Barnstaple & Pilton III scored 233-5 led by Leon Murphy's 60 at home to Bishops Nympton. Dave Loder (43), Joe Burley (28), Cliff Newton (22) and unbeaten cameo knocks from James Rowe (12no) and Matt Newton (11no) helped Barum to their total. Fred Varney led the reply with 48 but only Andrew Paine (28) was also able to offer any serious resistance as the reply floundered on 132. 16 year old seamer Tom Harris claimed 4-31 whilst James Rowe and Matt Newton both bagged braces for Barum.
Belstone skipper Phil Woods hit a career best unbeaten 120 to lead his side to a five wicket win over visiting North Molton. The Mid Devon side bated first and were indebted to Matt Geen's 75 in a total of 216-6. Woods dominated the run chase with eleven 4's and was given good support by Chris Walpole (29).
Carl Shaw took 4-32 and Sam Witheridge 3-17 as Filleigh III, with seven 15 year olds in their starting XI won at a canter at Heathcoat. The Knightshayes side were bowled out for 121 despite a fine 40 from young Will Brown. Charlie Popplewell (34), Simon Prosser (30) and John Harrison (20no) saw their side comfortably to victory.
James Hope hit a wonderful 112 in the Nomansland total of 231-8, good enough to give them a 92 run win at Petrockstowe.
Division One
Bideford 342-4 (A Hodges 115no, C Luxton 52, P Stevens 41, I Hayter 38no,W Barrett 37; I Hobbs 2-55), Lynton & Lynmouth 167 (S Hunt 52; M Barrett 2-11, J King 2-30). Bideford (20pts) bt Lynton & Lynmouth (0) by 175 runs.
Heathcoat 304-8 (P Randerson 122, Q Adams 45, M Parkes 28, T Frankpitt 20; M Jarrett 3-56, N Dean 2-44). Bradninch 163-9 (J Murphy 35, C Dean 22; M Williams 4-33, J Harvey 2-29). Heathcoat (20pts) bt Bradninch (2) by 141 runs.
Sandford 232-6 (T Mostert 66, R Glass 49; M Tozer 2-39), Newton Tracey
187 (S Gear 60, I Gear 30; R Glass 4-54, T Mostert 3-16). Sandford (20pts) bt Newton Tracey (8) by 45 runs.
North Devon 226-6 (S Amoss 41, C Overton 40, J Overton 37; P Tuson 2-31, T Anderson 2-51), Victoria Park 230-5 (M Bettis 81, N Bettis 38; S Rhodes 2-33).Victoria Park (20pts) bt North Devon (5) by 5 wickets.
Division Two
Beaford 222-7 (A McMillan 87, M Lake 34, G Lake 28; P Simmons 4-42, O Hunt 2-21), Bratton Fleming 206 (S Ayres 69, J Tapp 40; M Lake 4-36, D ane 4-36). Beaford (20pts) bt Bratton Fleming (10) by 16 runs.
Morebath 203 (S Kelland 78), Filleigh II 141(R Venn 3-15) – no other details received. Morebath (20pts) bt Filleigh II (6) by 62 runs.
Division Three
Shebbear 331-9 (M Bray 197, J Pengelly 44, T Stone 38), Ilfracombe 93. Shebbear (20pts) bt Ilfracombe (0) by 238 runs.
Barnstaple & Pilton II 97 (S Wheatley 26; N Merrisk 4-12, R Pearson 3-6, J Corry 2-10), Westleigh 99-1 (J Ford 42no, J Corry 35). Westleigh (20pts) bt Barnstaple & Pilton II by 9 wkts.
Division Four
Halberton 189-9 (D Barker 46, T Radley 26, G Maher 23, M Turner 18; A Mutlu 2-30, D Hart 2-32), Bideford II 154 (D Hart 45; D Barker 5-15). Halberton (20pts) bt Bideford II (8) by 35 runs.
Kelseymen 222-8 (R Burbidge 80, H Booker 29, P Jaggers 27; M Warren 3-53, C Wadsworth 2-29), Newton Tracey II 209 (N Parkin 86no, C Nash 28; C McClellan 2-34, H Booker 2-31, M Lewis 2-21, J Lethbridge 2-48). Kelseymen (20pts) bt Newton Tracey II (10) by 13 runs.
Cheriton Fitzpaine 235-3 (P Cutler 87no, D Carr 79no; M Stevens 1-26, M Brown 1-31), Victoria Park 236-6 (T Lane 48, M Slade 39no, M Harris 27no). Victoria Park II (20pts) bt Cheriton Fitzpaine (6) by 4 wkts.
Division Five
Barnstaple & Pilton III 233-5 (L Murphy 60, D Loader 43, J Burley 28, C Newton 24), Bishops Nympton 132 (F Varney 48, A Paine 26; T Harris 4-32, J Rowe 2-13, M Newton 2-14). Barnstaple & Pilton III (20pts) bt Bishops Nympton (2) by 101 runs.
North Molton 216-6 (M Geen 75, C Turner 37; S Tremain 1-22, H Holman 1-27), Belstone 220-5 (P Woods 120no, C Walpole 29; P Strong 2-32). Belstone (20pts) bt North Molton (5) by 5 wkts.
Heathcoat II 121 (W Brown 40; C Shaw 4-32, S Witheridge 3-17), Filleigh III 122-4 (C Popplewell 34, S Prosser 30, J Harrison 20no). Filleigh III (20pts) bt Heathcoat II (4) by 6 wkts.
Nomansland 231-8 (J Hope 112), Petrockstowe 139. Nomansland (20pts) bt Petrockstowe (4) by 92 runs.
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