Devon Cricket Board - North Devon League latest

NORTH DEVON LEAGUE - WEEK 22
Results & tables

THE destination of the First Division title looks set very much for Heathcoat after Filleigh lost their penultimate game at relegation battling Newton Tracey and North Devon were unable to fulfil their game at Sandford owing to their involvement in the South West Twenty20 Finals.

However, that North Devon game at Sandford may yet need League management intervention as Sandford are to set to make their feelings know to the League about how unhappy they are that North Devon still managed to field a 3^rd XI for a Division Four game whilst claiming an inability to raise a side for the 1^st XI fixture in Mid Devon.

Sandford Secretary Paul Smith said: “This does not sit easy with us. We fully understand that North Devon had a major engagement to fulfil in the Twenty20, but it does seem odd that they can still field a side to play a home game in Division Four and yet fail to fulfil a top flight game. We have two games next weekend and one the week after that and so finding another date is impossible.”

The plot thickens with the fact that next up Sandford host Heathcoat who need to win Sunday’s meeting to seal the title.

If the Creedy Park men were to win that one without the visitors banking at least two points then a Saturday win at Bradninch for the Instow men would see them lift the table – unless, of course, the League take a look at the observations of Sandford!

At the opposite end of the table Bradninch climbed off the bottom spot for the first time since early May when they thumped Bideford and that result sees Ian Hayter’s men slip into a relegation berth. Bideford batted first and were bundled out for 118 with only Pete Stevens (45) and Dave Hart (19), making any serious contributions. Richard Foan (4-10) and Nick Dean (2-36), were the principle wicket takers for Bradninch who raced to victory in just 22 overs with Foan completing a fine all round effort with an unbeaten 56 and Ross Acton scoring an unbeaten 23. Alec Hodges took 2-30 for the visitors who have to win next Sunday at Victoria Park. If the game is not played, or they lose, then they will go down and Newton Tracey will stay up.

Newton Tracey gave their chances of staying up a massive boost with a 105 run win in their final game of the season at home to Filleigh. This result also ended the visitor’s hopes of claiming the top honour. Julian Moore, with 84, led the Newton Tracey innings to its close of 210-9. Jamie Palmer (3-18) and James Marsh (2-34), claimed wickets for Filleigh who were then bundled out for just 105 with Gary Chatham (3-10) and Simon Gear (3-23), amongst the wickets.

So the destiny of the 2009 title should be settled next weekend with the top honour looking set to stay in Mid Devon and be housed at Knightshayes, home of Filleigh.

Lynton & Lynmouth look the most likely to drop down into the 2^nd Division, they have to win at Sandford on Saturday and then hope that Bradninch lose all three of their final games.

Braunton and Morebath meet in Mid Devon on Sunday for a game that will surely determine the winners of the 2^nd Division. Braunton travel looking for the single point that will see them go back up to the top flight. Morebath need a total of 20 points from their final two games to make it four Mid Devon sides in the top Division next summer.

Both the weekends matches in the second tier fell to waterlogged wickets with the games at Bratton Fleming and Holsworthy meeting watery ends.

The Saturday Division Three game at Barnstaple & Pilton met a watery grave but they did play the day after at Bude where Westleigh won by 8 runs. A score of 206-8 for the visitor’s was answered by the home side with 198-9. Westleigh could yet sneak across the finishing line in a promotion spot but it’s highly unlikely for Shebbear would have to lose heavily at Bude on Sunday where just two points for the college outfit will suffice to book them a ticket to the 2^nd tier next season alongside champions Incorrigibles.

At the other end who goes down with Bratton Fleming is now down to a two horse race between Bude and Ilfracombe, both have two to play and either could yet slip down.

In Division Four North Devon III played in both the games over the weekend. On Saturday they went down to Bideford by 22 runs. Josh King top scored with 64 as Bideford closed on 190-9, Colin Payne claiming a fivefer with figures of 5-22 and Casey Elliott (3-48), was also amongst the wickets but then only Stuart Rhodes (44) and Max Curtis (36), made any real progress as Josh King and Darren Hart both bagged braces. Bideford are now in pole position to claim promotion alongside Weare Giffard. With two to play for both themselves and Halberton, it all means that if the Mid Devon side were to win their remaining two then Bideford need to do likewise and they will be promoted. If, however, Halberton slip up, or don’t play one of their game owing to weather, just the one win will suffice.

Cheriton Fitzpaine were beaten at home by Lynton & Lynmouth II and that means a bottom two slot for the Cherries who are relegated alongside North Devon III.

The real success story over recent weeks in the Division has been the rise and rise of Victoria Park II who claimed a 23 run win at Instow and so climbed clear of the relegation places. Adam Oliver (91) and Tim Lane (35) led the side to 200-5, answered by the home side with 177 all out, Dave Tribe top scoring with 65, Tom Hayne took 6-22 for Victoria Park.

In Division Five there was a big surprise at Witheridge where Nomansland inflicted a first defeat of the season on champions Belstone. Batting first, the home closed on 214-7 led by an unbeaten 60 from James Hope with other contributions coming from Dave Gooding (38), Russell Hilton (24), Gary Say (23) and Andrew Crossman (21). Chris Firth then picked up four wickets as Belstone were bundled out for 105. They still go up as champions with North Molton joining them in Division Four next summer. Petrockstowe ended their first season in the League with a win, beating hosts Filleigh III by 54 runs . Oli Scantlebury (66) and Ian Cockwill (25), combined to help the visitors to 147-8. Karl Shaw bagged a brace for Filleigh who were then bowled out for 93 despite an unbeaten 28 from Simon Prosser. Neil Cockwill took 5-17 for the visitors.