Devon Cricket Board - B Division reports & reactions

B Division reports & reactions

ALPHINGTON will be looking for a pick-me-up away to Tavistock on Saturday after taking a nine-wicket pounding at the hands of Chudleigh.
With Andy Shepherd making 24 and Nick Ainscough 22, the Alphas scraped together 110 all out in 44 overs.
Alphington looked set for a decent total at 70 for three, but ran into trouble against Rob Clarke (2-45) and were finished off by Jon Martin (2-9) and Ben Holmes (4-31).
Chudleigh had the runs knocked off in just 28 overs – helped by a generous helping of 37 wides from the home bowlers.
The much-travelled Lance Ames – ex-of Exmouth, Budleigh, Bovey Tracey and Exeter St James – top scored for Chudleigh with 54 not out.
Chudleigh entertain Barton this Saturday and will want to prove their win at Alphington was no flash-in-the-pan.
Beating Barton would mean a lot to Chudleigh skipper Martin as he played for the Cricketfield Road side for a couple of seasons.

BARNSTAPLE came off distinctly second best in the North Devon derby at Hatherleigh.
Hugh Romans top scored on 69 as Hatherleigh made 227 for seven. Along the away Romans shared stands of 60 with Gareth Tidball (48) and 50 with Jack Cherrington (16).
Steve Moore had a tidy three for 35 for B&P.
Barum reached 31 without loss, then slumped to 55 for five and were on their way out.
Mark Metters was last man out for 37 as B&P were bowled out for 136 by Sean Leatheran (3-23), Nick Rogers (3-29) and Mark Lake (2-28).

BARTON will be looking to get into a regular winning habit again when they visit Chudleigh on Saturday.
Having Jack Porter home from London for the weekend certainly helped Barton’s cause as he featured prominently with bat and ball in the 81-run win over Axminster.
Porter belted a top score of 73 in Barton’s tally of 216 for six, then took four for 45 as Axminster were bowled out for 135 in reply.
Barton hadn’t won for 22 games stretching back to the tail end of the 2010 season, so victory was long overdue.
Skipper Adam Parker’s stated aim is promotion back to the A Division at the first attempt and the win over Axminster was a step in the right direction.
“It was brilliant to get our season off and running with a win and 20 points,” said Parker.
“It was a good all-round performance where everyone contributed and fought hard to bowl them out.”
Shaun Needham (36) and Harry Moores (24) got Barton off to a 70-run start, then Porter and Tom Drake (26no) hoisted another 88 for the fifthwicket.
Nick Taylor (4-39) was the only Axminster bowler to enjoy much success.
Axminster were out of the running at 54 for six. Despite a rearguard effort by Ryan Walker (34), Porter and Parker (2-8) wrapped things up with time to spare.
Chudleigh will feel confident going into the game as they romped home by nine wickets at Alphington.
With Andy Shepherd making 24 and Nick Ainscough 22, the Alphas scraped together 110 all out in 44 overs.
Alphington looked set for a decent total at 70 for three, but ran into trouble against Rob Clarke (2-45) and were finished off by Jon Martin (2-9) and Ben Holmes (4-31).
Chudleigh had the runs knocked off in just 28 overs – helped by a generous helping of 37 wides from the home bowlers.
The much-travelled Lance Ames – ex-of Exmouth, Budleigh, Bovey Tracey and Exeter St James – top scored for Chudleigh with 54 not out.
Chudleigh entertain Barton this Saturday and will want to prove their win at Alphington was no flash-in-the-pan.
Beating Barton would mean a lot to Chudleigh skipper Martin as he played for the Cricketfield Road side for a couple of seasons.

DARTINGTON & Totnes can tackle the long trip to Barnstaple & Pilton with a win under their belts over Tavistock.
An away win seemed the most likely outcome after Tavistock had dismissed D&T for 87.
Bertus Loots (22) and Ryan Stevenson (18) got D&T to 41 without loss, then they dipped to 56 for four and only Harold Stevenson (13no) reached double figures as the collapse gathered pace.
There were five wickets for Jamie Stephens and three more for Shaun Cleave.
Tavistock crashed to 11 for four under pressure from Stevenson and new signing Nathan Caton-Robinson, who w was with Alphington last season.
Only Dave Manning and Stephens with a brace of dozens made much headway as Stephenson (5-29) and Caton-Robertson (3-23) skittled Tavvy for 70.
THORVERTON got an unwelcome day off in the B Division last Saturday when their game against Lewdown was called off.

Thors travel to Axminster this Saturday, weather permitting!

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