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NORTH DEVON LEAGUE – WEEK 19

THERE were home wins in the two North Devon Holiday Homes Division One games played in week 19 with Heathcoat edging a step closer to the title by seeing off Victoria Park at Knightshayes and Sandford nudged Newton Tracey nearer the drop by beating them at Creedy Park.

Heathcoat have two outings to go and, providing they win them both, at home to Bradninch on the final Sunday of the month and away at Sandford on September 13^th, they will be crowned champions.

The Knightshayes men were ruthless in dispatching Victoria Park as they plundered an impressive300-9 and the bowled the visitors out for 177. Sam Smith (78), Qassim Adams (60) and Liam Lewis (47), combined to help their side to their imposing total and then Lewis sent down eight overs, returning mighty impressive figures of 7-33 to help seal the win.

Sandford claimed their 4^th win of the top flight season, and climbed into 4^th spot thanks to a 110 run win over relegation threatened Newton Tracey. Batting first, the Creedy Park faithful were treated to another marvellous century from Tianne Mostert who was unbeaten on 111 at the close of the innings. Russell Discombe scored 42 and Brian Leach chipped in with 22 as the home side closed on 253-5. Simon Gear took 2-44 for the visitors who were then bowled out for 143. Julian Moore top scored with 29, Simon Ashplant (3-34) and Pete Steer (3-36) were amongst the wickets.

THERE was a third top flight game scheduled, also to be played in Mid Devon but Bradninch, with their involvement in the Devon Twenty20 Finals Day at Instow, asked visiting Filleigh to agree to find a new date for the game.

When Heathcoat were faced with a similar scenario for the Mid Devon Twenty20 Finals day at Bradninch they had to stretch their resources to send an eleven to Bradninch, send another to fulfil a top flight league game at Bideford and field a side to contest a Division Five game at Knightshayes.

Filleigh Chairman Andrew Collier is understandably none too happy with the situation saying: “There clearly is a constitutional law whereby the County Twenty20 gets precedence but, given that Bradninch have already been unable to field a side twice for League games this season we feel it very harsh that all we are offered as alternative dates to play the game are September 26 and Sunday 27. The League awards evening takes place on Friday September 25, so we are advising Bradninch that those two dates they offer are simply unacceptable. I suspect that, in this case, the League Management will need to make some sort of decision. We, as a club, see the North Devon Holiday Homes League, very much as our bread and butter and even though we are now in the County League on Saturday’s and see that as ongoing development work for the club, we are very keen to put our all into the NDL. It is rather sad that Bradninch, as a club with two sides in the County League, one in the Premier Division, are unable to field a side to play a league game in mid August.”

The Bradninch chairman, Derrick Foan said: “As we understand it the League have allowed us to find an alternative date for the game and we are endeavouring to do that.”

IN Division Two, Morebath moved ever closer to sealing successive promotions, and with it a place in the top flight next season after a 46 run win at Hatherleigh. Richard Saville led the Mid Devon side to 246-9 with 73 and Rob Venn weighed in with 40. Venn then claimed three wickets and there were also braces for Eddie Marks and Steve Kelland – the latter claiming two wickets in two deliveries.

Two wins from their remaining four games (they host Holsworthy, Braunton and Shobrooke Park and travel to Bratton Fleming) and they will be promoted, win all four and they will go up as champions!

Beaford became the first team in the League to complete their 2009 fixtures and they brought the curtain down on the campaign with a win, beating Bratton Fleming by 8 wickets. Ollie Hunt (47) was the only visiting batsman to make any inroads in the first session of the game as Bratton Fleming were bowled out for 162. Paul Heard took 2-21 for the home side who cruised to victory thanks to an unbeaten 73 from Mark Lake and 66 from Ali McMillan. It was left to Alex Crisp to score the winning runs and also the final runs of the NDL season for Beaford who look set for a top half finish.

THE bottom two met at Shobrooke Park where Filleigh II were 6 wicket winners. This despite a splendid century for the hosts John James who hit exactly 100 of his side’s 165-6, passed for the loss of four wickets by Filleigh for whom Seb L’Barth scored 50.

TWO games were played in Division Three and went very much to the form book, however, the stand out individual performance came at Westleigh where visiting Shebbear’s Martin Bray hit yet another three figure total.

Bray’s 119 takes him past an outstanding 900 League runs for the season, smashing the previous best tally for a campaign in the Division, Ruan Nel’s 846 for Heathcoat in the 2004 season. Chris Jenn also chipped in with 48 as Shebbear were bowled out for 210. It was then a case of a right family affair after tea as the home side were bowled out for 144 with Mike Furber taking 3-22 and his 13-year-old son, Joe, bettering that with 3-7 from his one single over!

Bude’s Andrew De Rosa hit another big ton, his 156 was the biggest single contribution to a total of 290-7, Ryan Curtis chipped in with 44, and then visiting Ilfracombe were dismissed for 194 with Jamie Sutton top scoring with 75. Mark Purcell and Ryan Haywood both bagged braces of wickets for the home side.

THERE was a thrilling tie played out at Lynton & Lynmouth II where Cheriton

Fitzpaine shared the Division Four spoils thanks to a last-ball wicket from Mike Foan. Batting first, the Cherries closed on 167-9 led by a magnificent unbeaten century from Ben Coe. Such was the Coe dominance with the bat that then next best was the 22 from Peter Blight. Jim Cranstone was one of three home bowlers to claim two wickets. Lynton & Lynmouth the reached 167-8 with Foan bowling the final delivery. He clean bowled Geoff Turner and the match was tied! Tim Druce top scored for the home side with 39. Foan finished with 2-15 but that was bettered by Coe who completed another superb all round effort with 2-11 and there were also wickets for Jim Cutler (2-43) and Robbie Keight (2-51). Leaders Weare Giffard are closing in on another promotion after they won by 150 runs at Victoria Park II who slip back into the bottom two as a result. John Wittram was the star of the show as he registered the day’s highest score across the League with an unbeaten 176 in an imposing total of 320-3. The home side were then restricted to 170-9 with Dave Gordon providing the top score of 57. Billy Curtis took 4-20 for the victors who need two wins from their final three to confirm their ticket to the higher Division next summer.

IN Division Five Belstone became the first team throughout the League to seal an honour as they defeated their nearest challengers, North Molton, to take the title. Phil Dennis claimed a four wicket haul as North Molton were bowled out for 96 but the champions made hard work of getting a cross the finishing line, labouring to 95-6, the wobbling to 95-8, before Harry Bushin spanked his one and only ball to the boundary to seal the win. Richard Drake top scored for Belstone with 20.

Josh Clare (76) and Gary Say (66), combined for Nomansland in a total of 272-5 and then Ryan Bowden took 4-8 as visitors Bishops Nympton were bowled out for 168 and there was a fine win recorded at Barnstaple & Pilton III by Heathcoat II.

Jack Lilley De Cruz top scored for the visitors with 76 and Lee Dixon hit a jug evading 49 in a total of 193-6. Steve Ayre (3-26) and Ian Wheatley (2-45), were the principle wicket takers for Barum who replied with 145-9. Matt Clarke posted the highest score with his unbeaten 40. Simon Pin (21) and Andrew Barton (17) both chipped in but the Knightshayes men claimed victory as Lee Dixon (2-13) and Matt Lilley (2-29), took wickets.