- 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
BOVEY Tracey refused to lie down and die against North Devon and fought them every inch of the way before conceding defeat.
North Devon looked clear favourites after dismissing Bovey for 140 – Lewis Hammett making 40 in a fraction over two hours at the crease as they recovered from a parlous 59 for seven.
North Devon were cruising at 74 for one, struggling at 81 for five after spinners Chris Bradley and Matt Golding got into them, and wobbling at 127 for eight when former Torquay all-rounder Ed Yeo got out.
The tail-enders marshalled by Rob Ayre (pictured) got North Devon over the line by two wickets, but it had been a close-run business.
Bovey lost opener Malcolm Lake in the third over, which denied him the chance of a third successive Premier Division century.
Sam Witheridge got stuck into the early order, nipping out Jordan Willoughby, Charlie Sheen and Peter Bradley on his way to figures of three for 33.
Josh King (2-10) did a bit more damage and when Hammett went out to bat Bovey were 43 for four with Matt Golding having retired hurt as well.
Hammett batted through for 40 in 122 minutes off 89 balls with just two boundary hits.
Golding went back out at 70 for eight and put on 32 for the ninth wicket with Hammett.
Last man Ashley Causey hung around with Hammett for exactly 11 overs putting ip another 38 – Bovey’s best partnership of the match.
Callum French (2-30) spun out Hammett in the 45th over.
“In the first ten overs, where we have been quite loose previously this summer, we bowled fantastically, picking up two wickets and only allowing Bovey to score 30-odd runs,” said North Devon skipper Barney Huxtable.
“Sam Witheridge kept it very simple and just bowled nice and straight with Dreyer doing exactly the same at the other end.
“Sam picked up three wickets and bowled the best spell I've seen him from him in the first team.
“Tom also kept it tight, and Josh King used the conditions brilliantly to get the ball swinging around corners.”
North Devon started badly with opener and captain Huxtable falling lbw to Lake third ball.
French (31) and Max Curtis (43) pushed the score up to 74 then it all went pear-shaped for North Devon.
Chris Bradley had French caught at slip and Quintin Dreyer lbw three balls later.
Jas Kalsi was stumped off Golding, who then had dangerman Tom Allin pouched at slip by Andy Fairbairn too.
Curtis and Yeo stopped the slide with a stand of 23 before Golding cleaned up county colleague Curtis on his way to figures of three for 36.
Chris Bradley (3-14) and Lake (2-36) took a wicket each as North Devon subsided to 127 for eight.
In a tense finish King and Witheridge nudged and nurdled North Devon over the line.
“We didn't get off to a great start, losing a wicket off our first ball of the innings,” said Huxtable.
“Max and Callum fought back, but when the wicket started turn Chris Bradley and Matt Golding bowled very well picking up a few wickets each.
“The partnership between Ayre and Yeo got us home in the end. They showed the young ones how you get yourselves into a winning position and don’t panic under the pressure.
“It was a shame they couldn't see it through all the way. But it was Sam Witheridge's day and he finished the game off by sweeping Sheen for four to win.”
Peter Bradley, the Bovey Tracey captain, said it was a competitive game played the right way but with the wrong outcome as his side were 50 runs short.
“Something like 200 would have been par,” said Bradley.
“A combination of a good bowling and fielding unit, a good seamers’ deck and lack of concentration and shot selections cost us,
“Lewis Hammett batted superbly and I will mention his name again as a potential keeper-bat for the Lions.”
Last man Causey – a Devon youth player – is one to watch for the future as well, according to Bradley.
“He’s 15 and with a lot of time left to bat looked unfazed, mainly against Tom Allin and the overseas bowler Dreyer,” said Bradley.
Despite their lack of runs, Bovey worked hard in the field to rattle North Devon.
“We did so well to almost win it,” said Bradley.
“We felt proud of our efforts and Chris Bradley and Matt Golding are bowling very well. Lake Rabin hard for us. Lacked that extra seamer in Bougourd or Hickingbottom.
“The Boys are looking forward to bouncing back with to good games next weekend against Torquay.