The two day game with Somerset was a perfect trial for the under 17 2010 season. It demonstrated all the requirements to perform well in the ECB competition  - bat the day score 350 plus, get them in for half an hour, a top order batter to score a ton, support him, the lower order to make a vital contribution, get an early wicket before close of play (well you can not have it all),  field well, get in 18 plus overs an hour, bowl to fields, have patience, there will be partnerships, if you are a bowler short you all have to work harder, make things happen, win each session, keep at it – 18 points brilliant.

It was obvious that Torquay had worked hard after the twenty-ones game the previous day as the ground was again in perfect condition. The day started badly when Matt Plowman pulled up with a shoulder rotation injury. It was good at last to sample the NHS in Devon – the last time was Andrew Buzza at Axminster. As that visit it was a critical one for the player whilst Buzza got the nod to take part the following week in the Isle of Wight poor Matt was advised to visit a physio and rest!! Not the news he wanted to hear as he had only broken into the side this summer. This was the third and hopefully final visit of the summer. A kit is now kept in the car for the waiting room all off course with gold lions. It was a real disappointment for player and team as was the message from the ground that Tom Mitcham had left a straight one – his second ball – have a good day Tom (his comment was I might as well have only come tomorrow!). The captain was allegedly in fine form – not witnessed but he is batting well. All his runs were fours and he scored three of them but Devon was now 25-2. Alex Brown and Barney Huxtable are the engine room of the side and they contributed 149 runs. They batted to lunch 143-2 off 33 overs. They are a good combination and bat well together. The real disappointment was that Brown did not make three figures. In the seventh over after lunch he was caught by Blanchard thirty short. He had faced 117 balls hitting ten fours in a really important contribution. Huxtable now needed support. Occupation of the crease can be added to the list above. George Stephenson, who later withdrew from the tour, batted thirty-six minutes to help add 32 and gain another hypothetical batting point. Defriend looked as if he had not spent much time at the crease and scored an eleven ball 1 – he would agree not good enough. Alex Hill nearly lasted another half an hour, two minutes short but was stumped for a three four sixteen. The 5-6-7-8-9 of the team must be prepared to bat sessions. The nine - Connor Bryan had already displayed this skill at seventeen’s. Will Matthewman came in at 8 and has appeared in the Independent virtually 80% of the summer with his batting exploits now was an excellent opportunity to transfer this form to the county stage. His initial cause was not helped by the loss of his partner five runs after entering the arena. Huxtable had been simply magnificent; the complements had been flowing particularly from the Torquay captain who will be coaching the Midland Tour party. His concentration, shot selection, demeanour were first class. He passed his third successive ton against Somerset and on 128 – just four runs short of the highest ever under 16 score (Richard Baggs 1991) fell playing on. He had taken Devon from 25 to 259 faced 164 balls batted for thirteen minutes over three hours hitting fourteen fours and two sixes. He had been brilliant. Now he has to break the record scores at both sixteen’s and seventeen’s. Matthewman was joined by his former Paignton colleague and they put on nineteen before Matthewman was bowled by Berkley, fifth over after tea. Craig Eaves showed his intent as another 30 were added before he was bowled by Miller for ten. The real surprise package was the last wicket partnership an undefeated 45. Ryan Skinner looked a batter, he had also featured in the Independent the previous week and showed his shirt number should have been 11 not 12. The final batting point was achieved and declaration discussions were opened. A number had slipped on the scoreboard and Bryan was apparently close to a maiden fifty – as it transpired he was 32 not 42 but he accelerated and a drinks break gave him another over. He reached it in style driving three fours – a well deserved reward for a very unassuming cricketer with no side – the type of player all sides need. He was unbeaten on 56 (69 balls and minutes) and Skinner on 10 off 19 – just what was needed. Somerset had 16 overs and opened with last years Wiltshire under 15 captain Phillips and Musgrave who had been a pain the previous week. They put on 33 with little mishap.

It started raining at five, it had to, half of Somerset was under canvas, and it brightened up as the meeting time arrived. Bacon rolls were the order of the day as the sun shone and the Torquay team worked hard. Play started on time. A smart run out again changed things to remove Musgrave. Phillips and Ellison added 18 when Eaves yorked Ellison. Thirty eight were added for the third wicket. The spin bowling department of a two day side is critical, the successful ones have wicket taking spinners. Two thousand and nine has not been an easy one for spinners but the good ones such as Chappell and Metters still take wickets inexpensively. The seamers should be able to block an end up but your spinner has to be able to take three or four wickets an innings. As an experiment Joe Smith and Zak Bess turned to Tom Mitcham and Sam Defriend. The midland tour would need 50/75 overs of spin an innings as it has not rained so much up there! It worked, Mitcham extracted bounce and the unpredictable Defriend spin! Phillips was the first to fall bowled Mitcham, the umpire’s verdict it did come back – a bit. He had scored 45 off 130 hitting 8 fours. Two wickets fell at 103 Defriend with Bryan’s help sent back the captain Wilmott for 31 and last weeks hero Will Steward fell to a stumped Brown bowled Mitcham 2. It was a smart stumping. Alex Brown was Cameron Grainger’s (who was with the West at Loughborough) understudy. He had advised us he could do it and……… although his fielding was missed. Lunch was taken at 125-5 off 53. The Lasagne and garlic bread had been chosen the previous week was very well received. Patience and there will be a partnership were the thoughts post lunch – indeed you can add post lunch sessions can be difficult to the list. Ninety-one runs were added for the sixth wicket by the two youngsters Kitch and Blanchard. They batted well but in the 83^rd over Sam Defriend dived forward to take a smart caught and bowled. Kitch had scored 42 off 103.  Eight bowlers had been used. The new ball was taken Somerset were seven runs into their second hundred when Eaves had Blanchard well held by Brown for 41, tea was taken at 212-7. The eighth wicket put on 29 when Bryan gave Brown his third victim. Bryan was having an expensive second spell six overs six maidens 1-0. Four were added for the ninth before Skinner got his wicket trapping Berkley in front. The final wicket fell in the fourth over of the final hour when Bess eventually got into the act bowling Miller for 4. Nine days earlier he had started it and it was fitting he should finish it. The bad news was passed on to an unlucky player who hopefully will stick at it and feature again next summer. The football was concluded with a steal out of Peter Withe’s locker. This had been a massive learning exercise, particularly for some parents who did not fully appreciate what the side were trying to achieve. The side accomplished it all. This could well be Joe Smith’s final involvement. His two years with us have been of the highest standard; he follows in a top line of coaches and is up there with the best of them. His input and contribution has been vital, he has been the link between two generations and has been exceptional. He has earnt the respect of all his players (well perhaps not his latest Facebook friend), opposition and management alike. Life goes on but he has left an indelible mark on Devon under 16 and 17 cricket.

Torquay could not have done more and they provided sunshine and two days play – thank you.