- South Dartmoor back to winning ways in cups
- Tom Allin tournament raised more than £5,000 for air ambulance
- Taverners kit bag delivered to Sri Lankan youngsters
- Devon trying to contact the class of 56
- Paceman Tshepo running in Virgin London Marathon
- Five Devon women in Western Storm squad for Kia Super League
- Registration night for all ages at Topsham on Monday
- Lots pouring in for auction at Allin Memorial tournament
- Thames Valley Gentlemen Cricket Club
- Bradninch add Argentinian flavour to Devon League
- Ipplepen youth registration night on Friday
- Final call for Groundsmans first seminar this year
- Devon League official tackling London Marathon for charity
- Bovey on familiar territory in Aaron Printers Cup
- Brockman Cup - Cup Kings lie in wait for holders
- Shepherd Trust helps Kingsbridge build for sustainable future
- DCL - Umpire Appointments 2016 (May 7th - July 2nd)
- Long standing records beaten
- North Devon see off Paignton chase
HEATHCOAT won for the first time in five outings when they defeated visiting Paignton by 71 runs
Hopes were high in the Paignton camp of arresting their own slide down the table as Heathcoat had lost four on the trot prior to Saturday’s meeting.
Heathcoat promptly racked up 277 for five – Dylan Penberthy leading the way with 91 – then dismissed Paignton for 206 in reply.
The result means Heathcoat move ahead of Paignton to sixth in the table. They entertain Exeter this Saturday in another basement battle,
A big Heathcoat total always looked on the cards after they reached 99 for one in the 23rd over.
Openers Toby Lochead (35) and Penberthy (91) put on 63 then skipper Sam Smith added another 36 with Penberthy,
Chirs Kelmere broke that stand, but the next breakthrough had to wait until Penberthy was bowled by George Yates. The score was 173 for three at the time.
A stand of 103 for the fourth wicket between Jack Dart (67) and Brad Barnes (53) took Heathcoat to maximum bonus points and beyond.
Paignton needed someone to do Penberthy’s job if they were going to win the game, or even get close. Their best scores were a brace of 34s from opener Richard Ashworth and George Benton, who came in a 111 for six.
Noah Wright was the only one of the recognised batters not to reach double figures, but 20s and 30s from most of the rest were never going to be enough.
Dart, who switched from Budleigh Salterton last winter, got into the middle order with three for 30. Jamie Drew had two for 38 with the rest of the wickets shared around.
There was even a wicket for keeper Barnes, who took his pads off to bowl and sent back Paignton skipper Connor Bryan (24).
Benton and Shergold (27) shared a stand of 56 for the seventh wicket, which was Paignton’s best of the game.
Vice-captain Lochead said Heathcoat finally recaptured some of their early season form and can look ahead with optimism to the upcoming games with lowly Exeter and struggling Plymouth.
“It was nice for the batsmen to do the job, which hasn't happened since the first game of the season,” said Lochead.
“Dylan and myself set a platform from the top and his innings was an example of how to build an innings.
“Wickets in hand allowed Jack Dart and Brad Barnes the freedom of batting without pressure and we saw the class both have.
“Bowling wise we weren't at our best early on but Dart came on and took couple of important wickets.
“We knew Paignton bat a long way down so it was nice to get 20 points in a must-win game.”
Connor Bryan, the Paignton captain, said his team let certain standards slip which he expects them to put right fast.
“The game was lost in both our fielding and death bowling as we were looking at a big score and run rate from the off,” he said.
“As a team we do believe this was a one-off and we will come back stronger.
“Heathcoat batted well however we allowed them 30-40 more runs than we should have.
“I have seen the lads work hard week in and week out and I believe another good performance and a win is just around the corner.”