Devon Cricket Board - C Division - last day decider for Clyst Hydon & Hatherleigh

C Division - last day decider for Clyst Hydon & Hatherleigh

C DIVISION

CLYST Hydon go into the final round of fixtures second behind leaders Lewdown but with a real fight on their hands to go up.

While Clyst Hydon were routing Kingsbridge by 76 runs, third-placed Hatherleigh were cruising to a 10-wicket win over Bideford.

Hatherleigh are eight points behind Clyst with a game to go – which would be tight at the best of times.

These are not the best of times for Clyst Hydon though as their last game is against unbeaten champions Lewdown.

Hatherleigh are away to bottom side Cockington, who have not won a game all season!

Graham Trude (64), Ian Suttonn (30) and skipper Kevin Sercombe (32) were Hydon’s main contributors in a total of 177 for eight. Bhanu deSilva (4-57) led the wicket-taking effort for Kingsbridge.

Kingsbridge slumped to 39 for five in reply and were grateful to Ashley Treeby (28) and Clive Clark (18) for staving off total collapse.

Clyst were not to be denied though and with Dhanuja Haturusingha (5-13), Mike Oberholster (2-22) and Clinton Lewis (2-18) wheeling away Kings were dismissed for 101.

Hatherleigh set up an absorbing last day of the season this Saturday when they defeated Bideford by nine wickets.

Bideford set off at a brisk pace, reaching 24 for none in four overs, then lost Mike Young to Rob Fishlegh (3-16).

Simon Gillesepie (3-41) tool mid-innings wickets, then Mark Lake (3-9) got stuck in as Bideford collapsed from 84 for four to 99 all out. Matt Allin (25) and James Ford (22) had the only scores of note.

Hatherleigh lost Rob Chapman at 16, but were otherwise untroubled, Gareth Tidball (45no) and Hugh Romans (26no) knocked off the rest.

Seaton were forced to sit out the penultimate weekend of the season when the weather led to the cancellation of their visit to Ivybridge and that consigned Seaton to relegation.

With drop rivals Ashburton, as expected, beating already relegated Cockington, it meant Seaton would go down with the South Devon side.

Seaton skipper Ben Morgan said: “Tables don’t lie and a look at the lost column shows we have been beaten 11 times in 17 games.

“It’s clear where our problems have been, and I mean beyond the obvious one of poor availability throughout the season.

“Our woes have come with not enough of our key players delivering consistently with either bat or ball.

“A glance at the bowling stats show just two of us with more than ten league wickets this season. I have 34 and Ben Libby has 20 and the next best is something like five.

“Factor in the six or seven half centuries and not one ton this term and you can see just why we are going to be spending at least one season in the D Division.

“In don’t like it and it hurts. However, I am up for the fight as the battle to get this team back up the league rankings must begin in earnest next summer - and I’d certainly like the chance to lead us back up.”

Leaders Lewdown were rained off against Stoke Gabriel.

Relegated Cockington sent most of their 2nd XI to Ashburton in a ploy to avoid relegation – and were duly hammered by seven wickets.

Max Ellis made 48 in a Cockington total of 90 all out.

Marcus West took four for 57 and there were two wickets apiece for Ashley Harvey and Tom Durman.

Chris Pascoe made 38 and Ashley Berry 27 not out as the target was polished off.

Cockington’s strengthened 2nd XI beat Ashburton in the mirror-image game.

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