Devon Cricket Board - A Division: Heathcoat back on top

PLYMPTON came a cropper at Heathcoat where they lost by seven wickets and were knocked off the top of the A Division table at the same time.

Jamie Carr came in at 90 for six and went on to make a top score of 45 as Plympton scraped together 146 all out in the 45th of their 50 overs.

Heathcoat were never in any real trouble o the chase and cruised him in the 29th over to snatch the leadership for themselves.

On a bad day all round for Plympton they dropped from top to third as Sandford beat Plymstock to go second.

However, only nine points separate the top four – Paignton are level with Plympton on 130 – and as Plympton face Sandford this Saturday it could be all change again.

Former Somerset pacer Steffan Jones (2-13) nipped out Plympton openers Andy Walter and Josh Mailing as the visitors dipped to six for two in the fifth over.

Lewis Gregory, released by Somerset to play for his home club, made 24 and Dave Wrench 22 as Plympton fought back.

Wickets for Jason Parr (2-30) and Mitch Baker (2-22) slowed Plympton again before Carr dug in, adding 56 for the final four wickets before he was last man out to Jack Menheneott (2-23).

Acting captain Josh Mailing accounted for Heathcoat’s South African opener Jean Rossouw on 22, but a stand of 57 between Baker (25) and Sam Smith broke the back of the chase.

Baker went at 79 and Smith for 48 off 45 balls at 108, leaving Tom Frankpitt (34no) and Justin Williams (21no) to wrap things up.

A DAN Robotham century wasn’t enough to give Plymstock victory when they visited promotion-chasers Sandford.

Sandford racked up a hefty 305 for eight in their 50 overs – Russell Discombe leading the way with 86.

Plymstock felt they were never going to knock up 306 to win – so concentrated in maximum bonus points instead.

Robotham’s ton made sure Plymstock reached their target and he finished undefeated on 105 in a total of 245 for six.

Although it was a 60-run defeat and left them in the bottom two for another week at least, the view from the Plymstock camp was upbeat.

Vice-captain James Nicholls said everyone at the club realised they were fighting for their B Division lives and picking up points was all important.

“We played pretty well – certainly better than we did when we lost to Hatherleigh last week,” said Nicholls.

“Chasing 300 might look a lot, but at one stage it looked like being 350-360, so we did well to keep it to 305.

“It was unlikely we were going to make the runs, so we decided to go for 225 as a minimum and maximum bonus points, which we got.

“When it became obvious we were going to get 225, Dan opened up a bit and played some cracking shots.

“It was a cracking innings and I would hope he can reproduce that sort of form again in the second half of the season.

“The games we are targeting are those against the teams in the bottom half of the table and we if we can win four of them I think we will be fine.”

Robotham, who faced 116 balls and hit 13 boundaries, put on 75 for the fifth wicket with Nicholls (35). Josh Hocken came back to the 1st XI with 32.

PAIGNTON were the runaway winners on derby day when they trounced Brixham by 179 runs at Queens Park.

Mark Smith transferred his talent for scoring tins from the 2nd XI to the 1st XI by smiting 114 in a Paignton total of 330 for five.

Rob Shergold made 68, Fanie deVilliers 47 and Smith’s opening partner George Benton chipped in with 29.

After Benton and Smith put on 71 for the first wicket, Shergold added 140 for the second with Smith.

South African deVilliers walloped 47 off 22 balls in a stand of 81 for the third wicket.

Smith was finally out at 294 for four in the 47th over, the second wicket for Lee Upham.

Brixham were all out for 151 in reply with George Northcott (33), Simon Caunter (26no) and skipper Richard Ward (22) offering what resistance there was.

Shergold had three for 19 with Stephen George, deVilliers and Benton all taking two each.

Paignton sit fourth in the table, just nine points behind leaders Heathcoat.

Skipper Connor Bryan says Paignton are in a great position to challenge for promotion.

“Overall, we have had a good first half,” said Bryan.

“We are in contention for the league and look forward to the second half of the season.

The team have learned from the first half what standards are required to keep up if we want to go up.

“We believe we have the ability to do so.”

While Paignton can think about promotion, Brixham have to do some work to move away from the bottom four.

Skipper Richard Ward remains upbeat despite the size and manner of the loss against Paignton.

“There were lots of positives for us from a very poor result,” said Ward.

“Our team spirit remains good and our heads never went down despite an arduous task in the field,” said Ward.

“We batted for two points in 49.3 overs despite being under the cosh.”

Barton had a derby clash of their own against visiting Abbotskerswell and emerged triumphant by 113 runs.

Tom Drake top scored with 75 – he and skipper Adam Parker nailed a stand of 87 for the fourth wicket – and with Chris Penna (40) chipping in a tally of 271 for seven was achieved.

Dale Adderley and Tom Porter added 30 lower down.

There was a genuine sporting moment when Abbots’ skipper Richard Acton called back opposite number Adam Parker, who was on his way off thinking he had been caught.

Catcher Acton realised the ball had touched the ground in the process and brought Parker back to resume his innings.

No one made more than Charlie Garratt (33) when Abbots batted as they were bowled out for 158 with Shaun Needham (4-26) and Parker (2-27 doing most of the damage.

Needham hasn’t been needed to bowl much in recent seasons, but his spell contributed to Abbots’ careering from 118 for five to 158 all out in the 39th over.

Barton are fifth in the table, just six points behind Paignton, leaving Parker optimistic for the rest of the season.

“We played some great cricket, batted positively and backed a good batting display with some tight bowling,” said Parker.

“Tom Drake batted excellently and Shaun Needham showed how much strength we have with the ball.

“The 20 points keeps us bunched up with the top pack, which is where we want to be moving into the second half of the season.”

BRAUNTON are off the bottom of the A Division table for the first time this season following a five-wicket win at Hatherleigh.

Charlie Neilson top scored for Hatherleigh with 61 in a final tally of 168 for nine.

Hatherleigh’s batting careered all over the place as they slumped from 21 for none to 28 for five and on to 81 for eight as Jon Baglow (3-17), Alex Hodges (2-26) and Jon Higgs (2-35) wheeled away.

Neilson and super veteran Nick Rogers (21) put on 70 for the ninth wicket, which at least gave the Hatherleigh bowlers something to defend.

Knocking off the runs wasn’t without its dramas as Braunton ,lost three wickets for one run on their way to 81 for four – Neilson (3-43) doing the damage.

After James Windsor (33) and Jon Higgs (26) had been and gone, skipper Ian Roberts batted through for a match-winning 56 not out.

Plymstock dropped behind Braunton into bottom spot, but only by a point. Hatherleigh are the next side up – and skipper Mark Lake is concerned they will get sucked into the relegation mire if they don’t buck up.

“We will have to bat a lot better than this in future, otherwise we are going to struggle,” said Lake.