Devon Cricket Board - North Devon League week 13

NORTH DEVON LEAGUE - WEEK 13
Results | Tables

Division One

Three of the four top-flight games managed to get a start in but only one was played to a conclusion. They got starts in at Lynton & Lynmouth (against North Devon), and Newton Tracey (versus Bideford), but neither finished and they did not begin at Victoria Park where bottom side Bradninch were set to play. The only game that saw action was the Mid Devon derby at Knightshayes where Heathcoat confirmed their place amongst the title chasing crowd whilst putting a severe dent in the Sandford top honour aspirations.

Batting first Heathcoat sailed to an imposing total of 277-8 in 43 overs – this game reduced by a couple of overs after rain. Liam Lewis led the way with a splendid 106 and there were useful contributions from skipper Pete Randerson (45), Q Adams (40) and Joe Smith (43). Steve Rowe was the most successful of the Sandford bowlers with a fivefer, returning figures of 5-41 and there was also a brace of wickets for Ryan Glass. Tianne Mostert led the run chase with a magnificent innings that was finally ended with the South African all rounder on 137, but during his reign wickets fell at regular intervals at the other end to leave the Creedy Park side nine down and on 236 at the close of play. Ned Menheniott claimed 3-41 and Q Adams picked up 2-3.

Division Two

THERE was a full programme scheduled in Division Two with play to a completion at half of them. They began at Beaford, where the visitors, Barnstaple & Pilton, were 87-3 after 20 overs, chasing down the home offering of 183-9 when the heavens opened. Alan James (58), Nigel Lake (26) and Geoff Lake (20), were the principle run getters for the home side. Matt Clarke claimed three wickets for Barum.

They began also at Morebath where the home side posted a healthy total of 239-8 thanks to 87 from Steve Kelland and 55 from James Mayes. Colin Welch took 3-29 for visiting Bratton Fleming II who were 69-2 midway through the reply when the rain returned for a third time and, just before 7pm, the weather won the day.

They played to a finish at Shobrooke Park where Holsworthy won by four wickets in a match that saw sixteen wickets fall for an aggregate score of just 168.

The hosts batted first and were quickly bundled out for 83, this in 31 overs with only John James (31) and Nigel Hoskins (25) able to put up much resistance as visiting skipper Keith Drew took 4-9 from six excellent overs. There were two wickets for Darren James (2-8) and Andy Layton (2-18). The Holsworthy reply saw wickets also fall at regular intervals, with the exception of that belonging to opener James Long and he was still there at the close with an unbeaten 45 to guide his side to victory. Andrew Steer bowled superbly for the hosts to return wonderful figures of 3-8 in five overs.

They also got a full game at Hatherleigh where the home side overcome a spirited Filleigh II side. The visitors batted first and were bowled out for 155. Martin Collier led the way with 58 whilst Tom Marsh hit 33. Gareth Tidball (3-32), Andrew Collier (3-37) and Eddie Dumbleton (2-31), were the principle wicket takers for the home side. Gareth Tidball then led the run chase with an unbeaten 45 and with contributions coming from Ryan Davies (26), Andrew Bennett (25) and an unbeaten 17 from Rob Fishleigh, Hatherleigh were able to seal the win with two wickets remaining. Frank James and Mark Prideaux each claimed three wicket hauls.

Division Three.

There were just two games scheduled and they involved the top two meeting and the bottom two also going head to head. At the top of then table leaders Incorrigibles went into their game with visiting Shebbear looking to extend their lead and maintain their 100% record and they managed it with something to spare after sealing a 7 wicket win. Shebbear had previously lost just the once but they were invited to bat, lost wickets at regular intervals, and were eventually all out for 104. James Pengelly did his bit for the cause with 51 whilst jack Frith chipped in with 17. Les Rendell and Alex Elston each claimed three wicket hauls for the home side.

Chris Kelmere then struck a rapid fire 57 and with Richard Ashworth contributing the next best of 26, victory was completed at something of a canter and it will now take something of a Devon Loch type catastrophe to deny Incorrigibles, and their new home wicket in Witheridge, gracing the second tier next summer.

The game between the bottom two at Ilfracombe was hit by the weather with Bratton Fleming II 10-1 when the heavens opened to force a very premature end to the afternoon. Dan Brierley took the only visiting wicket to fall.

Division Four

Halberton entertained Victoria Park II and beat them by five wickets. Dave Gordon did his bit to underpin the Victoria Park innings with what proved to be the top score of 18, although there were 35 extras to help boost the visitors total to a close of 107 in 32 overs. Greg Maher claimed 4-16 in nine lively overs and there were wickets too for Alec Thompson (3-12) and Jerry Turner (2-12).

The home side then reversed their order to give the non regular top order bats a chance and Richie Durrant promptly thumped an unbeaten 79 to fire his side to a five wicket win. Gordon completed a fine all round effort for Victoria Park by also being the pick of their bowlers, he took 3-61 in eight overs.

Cheriton Fitzpaine, without the injured Mike Foan, were comfortable winners at home to Newton Tracey II who they beat by 83 runs. Batting first the Cherries made their way to a close of 234-6 led by Phil Cutler with 79 whilst other major contributions to the cause came from Jeremy Tricks (61), Peter Blight (41) and a cameo knock of 17 from Will Carr. Both Jim Walters and Colin Wadsworth bagged a brace of wickets for the visitors who were then bowled out for 151. Mark Cowling top scored with 43 but the home bowlers were on top in the latter stages of the match as Phil Cutlet (3-20), Ben Coe (2-22) and Ted Brigden (2-14) all claimed wickets.

The Weare Giffard meeting with Kelseymen was another to fall foul of the weather.

Division Five

Leaders Belstone travelled to their game at Bude II in glorious sunny weather but as they arrived at the hosts ground the black clouds turned up with them and they did their worst before the skipper could toss a coin!

They got a game in at Filleigh III where visitors North Molton proved too strong. Peter Davies, the North Molton welfare officer, showed the hosts no mercy with a superb century and there was a knock of 47 from Matt Geen in a total of 283-6. Alex Kennedy was the pick of the home bowlers with 2-58. With Tom Cole finding an excellent line and length the home batsmen were always up against it. Cole claimed a fivefer to finish with 5-24 as only John Bordon (17) and Jamie Palmer (16) stuck around for very long.

That defeat for Filleigh was the second of two over the weekend for they also played on the Saturday when they went down by 43 runs at Petrockstowe. The hosts scored a healthy 208-9 and that was answered by the visitors with 165-5. But the game will best be remembered by the visitors for the excellent contributions of their three youngest players. Macaulay Harrison-Hooton top scored with an unbeaten 48 in the Filleigh innings whilst Harley Ashdown took 3-49 and Joe Witheridge claimed 2-13 during the home innings. All three lads are just 13 years of age.

They started, but didn’t finish at Barnstaple & Pilton II where the home side were going reasonably well on 98-4 after 22 overs of the game against Petrockstowe when the rains arrived.

The Saturday game at Nomansland saw Heathcoat II claim victory. It was quite a day for the Knightshayes men as it was the first time that the Club had fielded three XI’s with two other teams representing the club in the Francis Clark Devon League and Nick Lineham’s side tasked with contesting a Sunday League match. Lineham led from the front, first hitting 24 to help min his sides 186-9. Jack Maunder provided the top score with 68 and Jim Cridland chipped in with 45, two wickets each for Les Rendell and Ed Strong. Then Lineham took 4-30 in 8-1 overs and Chris Salter bagged a brace as the home side were bowled out for 142, their final wicket going down on the final ball of the match. Gary Say top scored fore the Witheridge side with 30.