Devon Cricket Board - D Division - Shaldon snatch Hydon's record

D Division - Shaldon snatch Hydon's record

SHALDON Optimists go into the derby clash against Ashburton boosted by a five-wicket win over leaders Clyst Hydon.

Clyst were unbeaten in 11 games before rocking up at Shaldon last Saturday and posting a respectable 217 for eght.

Shaldon knocked off the runs with nine overs to spare, lifting themselves into second place and sending a message that they are up for a promotion chase in the last six games.

Clinton Lewis (72) and Ian Sutton (27) put on 72 for the third wicket in Hydon’s best stand. There were two wickets each for Mark Couch, Seamus McKenna and C Woolnough.

A partnership of 121 for the first wicket between Todd Bullman (32) and McKenna (81) pointed Shaldon in the right direction,

Richard Boss and Karl Blackburn chipped in with a brace of 23s, then Jamie Day (22) and Andrew Epsley (5no) wrapped it up.

Shaldon are 12 points ahead of Seaton in the race for second behind Clyst, who are 37 points clear. The two chasers meet at Hazeldown on August 17.

ASHBURTON’s promotion hopes suffered a setback when they lost by 34 runs to Countess Wear.

The Wear were bowled out for 218 by Marcus West (4-42) and Matt Coon (3-46) with Dave Harkness top scoring on 72.

Although Dom Durman made 44 and Ashley Berry 37, Kav Dias (3-28) and Kam Singh (3-38) bowled Ashes out for 184.

Ashburton stay fourth in the table on 170 points – 15 behind Shaldon in the scrap for second place.

SEATON’S D Division promotion hopes were dealt a big blow when they lost by six wickets at relegation threatened Halberton and Sampford Peverell.

Skipper Ben Morgan top scored with 58 and Alex Hunt weighed in with 56 whilst there were also contributions fro Mike Wheeler (31) and Nick Beddell (21) in a respectable Seaton total of 234-7.

However, that was passed for the loss of just four wickets by the Mid Devon side.

The defeat was made all the harder to swallow for Seaton when news filtered through of a surprise first defeat of the season to previously all-conquering title favourites Clyst Hydon by a Shaldon side how now sit second in the table, a dozen points clear of Seaton who are now third, three points above fourth placed Ashburton.

It’s Filleigh at home on Saturday for Morgan’s men and, with Shaldon facing a difficult trip to Ashburton, there’s a real opportunity to close the gap or even end the day back in a top-two berth.

FENITON look increasingly doomed to slip further down the pecking order in the Francis Clark Devon League after a tenth defeat in 12 games when they were beaten by eight wickets at Honiton.

Bating first Feniton were arguably 40 to 50 runs light of a par score on another good day for batting.

Mark Kingdon and Adi Pullin both had knocks of 60 and skipper Graham Tucker chipped in with 24 as the innings closed on 203-8.

Concerns at the tea interval that the total was not enough were proved correct as the home side powered to victory losing just two wickets, this despite a good opening spell from John French and Mark Kingdon which had the home batsmen in some bother. Four dropped catches did not help the Feniton cause!

Skipper Graham Tucker said: “Without wishing to sound like a scratched record, we simply are struggling owing to the fact that we have lost 18 overs of strike bowling in the last month with Charlie Selley leaving to play football with Willand Rovers and Chris Palfrey re-joining Whimple.

“Many a side would struggle with that and, whilst we have manfully battled on, we are short in certain departments and that’s why we are rock bottom and gradually slipping behind the rest.

“This game was typical of our current short comings. We made a slow, but confident start, and ultimately the runs on the board were never going to be enough.”

The reversal leaves the Acland Park side rock bottom and some 21 points from safety with the games running out.

Two-thirds of the season is now completed and unless there’s a remarkable up-turn in fortunes then Feniton will begin next season playing in the second lowest tier of the county league just eight years after they had been playing in the B Division.

Saturday sees Feniton host second-bottom Countess Wear and Tucker accepts it’s a big game.

He says: “It’s massive, most certainly one of those last chance saloon games. I guess if we don’t get a positive result that’s us doomed, but we have character in the dressing room and I am sure that, come what may, we’ll bounce back in some way.

“We have been together as a unit for many years; most of us where in the B Division side eight years ago and no one wants to see us drop further down the pecking order.”

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