Devon Cricket Board - E Division - Shaldon up despite defeat

E Division - Shaldon up despite defeat

E Division

Uplyme and Lyme Regis were crowned champions of the E Division and can look forward to East Devon derbies with Feniton, Seaton and Honiton next season. With skipper Ashley Caddy still in Hong Kong the side was led once again by Steve Batey who saw Adam Caddy hit a half century to lead the side to maximum batting points at 205-6. Caddy then bagged a brace of wicket whilst chairman Steve Howe also picked up a couple of wickets and Bradley Holmes nailed three victims as visiting Bridestowe were bowled out for 183.

A delighted Uplyme and Lyme Regis chairman said: “It is so richly deserved after our season, one which has seen us lead almost from the opening week.

“We had that long unbeaten record finally ended, but that did not prevent the team getting quickly back to winning ways and it is testament to the hard work that has gone on and off the cricket pitch this season that we are going up to the D Division as champions. It has been a real all-round effort by everyone connected with the club. Personally I cannot wait to see our side compete in East Devon derbies with the likes of Seaton, Feniton and Honiton.”

Shaldon booked their ticket to the D Division, but they did so in a losing cause as they went down by 53 runs to a Topsham St James side that needed all 20 points they took from the game to avoid slipping down a division.

Nick Horne (64), Tom Richardson (42) and skipper Ross Treleaven with an unbeaten 51 led the Saints to an imposing 234-6.

Mark Couch claimed a brace of wickets for Shaldon, who were then bowled out for 181. Gary Day (47) and Karl Blackburn (39) were the principle scorers whilst Adrian Miller claimed a marvellous return of 8-43 from 11.3 overs as Topsham St James got the full house of points and with that stayed in the division sending Upottery down.

Upottery knew that they simply had to bag a big points win over visiting Kentisbeare and then hope that Topsham St James did not do similar at title chasing Shaldon.

Matthew Button-Stephens hit 97 and Jason Kennard cracked an unbeaten 58 to lead the villagers to 245-5.

Gary Kennard then claimed 4-31 as Kentisbeare were bowled out for 132. So, twenty points to Upottery, but news filtered through of a similar haul for Topsham St James at Shaldon and so the Sidmouth Arms at Upottery, the base for the village cricket team, was left to contemplate life back in the basement division next season.

The final table showed Upottery finishing just one point behind Topsham St James and six fewer than Whitchurch and both sides had had two fewer games lost to the weather – a crucial factor in the final league table!

Upottery chairman Mike Kellow said: “We’ll take it on the chin, lick our wounds and look to get back up as quickly as possible.”

Tiverton and Bickleigh said goodbye to the E Division with a winning draw at Kenn.

Mark Hutchinson top scored with an unbeaten 35 as the Mid Devon men closed on 188-9. Dave Murfin then hit 53 to lead the home side run chase that came up agonisingly short. There was just a single run between the sides at stumps with Kenn closing on 187-9. Jason Parr claimed 4-37 for Tiverton and Bickleigh.

Kilmington signed off for another season with a five-wicket win at Whitchurch. Hal Cook claimed 5-30 as the home side were bowled out for 129 with Bill Barriball the top scorer with a knock of 44. Dave Cook then hit 25 and John Lavender chipped in with 24 as the win was confirmed with plenty of overs to play.

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