Devon Cricket Board - North Devon league leaders lose at last

STAY IN NORTH DEVON LEAGUE WEEK 14 - TABLES
TWO of the last four unbeaten records fell on week 14 of the Stay In Devon North Devon League.
The biggest scalp to be taken was that of top flight leaders North Devon who were beaten at home by Hatherleigh in the Instow meeting between the morning’s top two in the table.
North Devon stay top, but they only hold a point six, average point, lead over Hatherleigh and the result also opens the door for Filleigh and Newton Tracey to set up a four-team battle for the top honour.
Gareth Tidball (44) and Rob Mutch (38) led Hatherleigh to 220-8. Rob Mann took 4-40 and Matt Westaway claimed 3-33.
Westaway then struck 45 in support of Dave Tribe who hit 55 and Barney Meadowcroft chipped in with 39, but wickets fell along the way and the reply closed on 194-7 to consign North Devon to their first defeat of the term.
Henry Bedford sent down a superb spell of nine overs that saw him take one wicket for a miserly 25 runs and Mark Lake took 2-44, both his wickets taken with the last two deliveries of the contest.
Rob Gear served up the match-winning all-round performance for Newton Tracey as they beat visiting Bideford by 83 runs to ignite their interest in the top honour.
Simon Gear (49) and Nick Parkin (58) put on 104 for the opening wicket and then Rob Gear struck an unbeaten 55 as Newton Tracey closed on 205-9.
Fred King claimed 3-44 and there were a brace of wickets for Martin Steward (2-45) for the visitors.
Bideford were hit by an early Kieran Jerrett double strike and once James Ford departed for 24, bowled by Rob Gear, with the total on 64, and then Will Barrett fell to John Whormsley, also for 24, it was all downhill.
Alan Withecombe tried to hold the inevitable up with a gritty knock of 21, but the reply ended with the final wicket falling on 122.
Rob Gear took 4-27 and Jerrett finished with 3-35.
There was no action in Division Two with Heathcoat’s game at Beaford a weather casualty.
No play either at Victoria Park where a waterlogged pitch prevented Weare Giffard from seeing action and that’s the seventh time this term in eight outings that Weare Giffard have been left kicking their heels owing to the weather!
In Division Three there was a first defeat of the season for Holsworthy, beaten by Sandford by 22 runs.
The game was switched to Creedy Park, Sandford, owing to a waterlogged Holsworthy pitch.
Ben Hancock (49), Luke Wright (40), Ashley Baker (31) and Ben Clements (29) combined to help the Mid Devon side to 229-9.
Matthew Mansbridge (3-25) and Rob Mitchell (2-24) were the principle wicket takers for Holsworthy who replied with 207-9.
Mansbridge and Sam Hockin both had knocks of 43, but it was Hancock (4-32), supported by Gary Abdul (2-45) who ensured that the table toppers were to lose their unbeaten record.
They stay top, with Shobrooke Park, called off for the fourth time this term as a water logged outfield prevented play at home to Belstone, sitting second and Sandford third.
Bideford II were emphatic 140 run home winners over North Devon II.
John Weeks (58) and Ben Brend (52) top scored in a Bideford offering of 227-6.
Simon Pomeroy took 2-11 in nine splendid overs for the visitors who were then bundled out for just 87.
Matt Curtner-Smith top scored with 23 as James Greenleaf (3-20) and 13-year-old Charlie Webb, who took 3-11 in six excellent overs, three of which were maidens, combined to great effect.
In Division Four, Tom Robotham (58) and Wayne Manning (47) led Kelseymen to only their second success of the season s they won by five wickets at Westleigh.
Defeat was harsh on home skipper James Corry who certainly propped his side up in the contest.
Corry came to the middle at the fall of the sixth wicket with 15 overs remaining and promptly hit an unbeaten 64.
Hector Christie, making his first appearance of the season, provided the next best score of 29.
Chris Brigden (3-19) and Martyn Lewis (2-14) were the principle wicket takers.
Corry then took all but one of the Kelseymen wickets to fall in their successful run chase.
The Westleigh skipper finished with figures of 4-20.
Filleigh II were beaten at home by North Molton in a close encounter.
Martin Brice top scored with 50 as Filleigh were bowled out for 147 thanks to Rob Ayre and Jack Read who each claimed four wickets.
That was almost enough to win the game as North Molton edged home with just two wickets remaining with Jack Brazier bagging three and Jack Wakeley two.
Pete Davies top scored for the winners with 31.
There was no play owing to waterlogged wickets at Barnstaple and Pilton II (where Heathcoat II were due) and also at Petrockstowe (where Ilfracombe were the opposition).
Two of the four Division Four games beat the weather.
They played at Bratton Fleming where Barnstaple and Pilton were beaten by five wickets.
Matt Clark (19) and 25 extras made up the bulk of the Barum 74, passed for the loss of just five wickets by the hosts, Joe Johnson claimed three wickets for Barum.
Ruben Forrester and Stephen Adams each claimed three wickets as Newton Tracey II were bowled out for 87 at Hatherleigh II.
Scott Hayler then hit 37 to lead the hosts to a six wicket win.
There was no play possible at Nomansland (v Filleigh III) or at Dulverton (v Bishops Nympton).
The latter denied the top two in the table the chance to go head-to-head.
Division One
Hatherleigh 220-8 (G Tidball 44, R Mutch 38; R Mann 4-40, M Westaway 3-33), North Devon 194-7 (D Tribe 55, M Westaway 45, B Meadowcroft 39; M Lake 2-44). Hatherleigh (20pts) bt North Devon (8) by 26 runs.
Newton Tracey 205-9 (N Parkin 58, R Gear 55no, S Gear 49; F King 3-44), Bideford 122 (J Ford 24, W Barrett 24; R Gear 4-27, K Jerrett 3-35). Newton Tracey (20pts) bt Bideford (2) by 83 runs.
Division Two
Victoria Park v Weare Giffard. No play, rain.
Division Three
Bideford II 227-6 (J Weeks 58, B Brend 52; S Pomeroy 2-11), North Devon II 87 (M Curtner-Smith 23; C Webb 3-11, J Greenleaf 3-20). Bideford (20pts) bt North Devon (0) by 140 runs.
Sandford II 229-9 (B Hancock 49, L Wright 40, A Baker 31, B Clements 29; M Mansbridge 3-25, R Mitchell 2-24), Holsworthy 207-9 (M Mansbridge 43, S Hockin 43; B Hancock 4-32, G Abdul 2-45). Sandford (20pts) bt Holsworthy (10) by 22 runs.
Shobrooke Park v Belstone. No play, rain.
Division Four
Westleigh 161 (J Corry 64no, H Christie 29; C Brigden 3-19, M Lewis 2-14), Kelseymen 165-5 (T Robotham 58, W Manning 46; J Corry 4-20). Kelseymen (20pts) bt Westleigh (5) by 5 wkts.
Filleigh II 147 (M Brice 50; R Ayre 4-40, J Read 4-41), North Molton 148-8 (P Davies 31; J Brazier 3-39, J Wakeley 2-18). North Molton (20pts) bt Filleigh (8) by 2 wkts.
Barnstaple and Pilton II v Heathcoat II. No play, rain.
Petrockstowe v Ilfracombe. No play, rain.
Division Five
Barnstaple and Pilton III 74 (M Clark 19, extras 125), Bratton Fleming II 75-5. Bratton Fleming (20pts) bt Barnstaple and Pilton (5) by 5 wkts.
Newton Tracey II 87 (R Forrester 3-15, S Adams 3-22), Hatherleigh II 88-4 (S Hayler 37). Hatherleigh (20pts) bt Newton Tracey (4) by 6 wkts.
Dulverton v Bishops Nympton. No play, rain.
Nomansland v Filleigh III. No play, rain.