Devon Cricket Board - Heathcoat claim NDL title

NORTH DEVON LEAGUE - WEEK 23
Results & scorers

HEATHCOAT were crowned champions of the 2009 North Devon Holiday Homes League on a late sunny afternoon at Keynsham Park, Bradninch, when the home side sealed a 33-run win over North Devon and that result meant that, even if the Knightshayes outfit were to be thrashed the following day at Sandford, then they would still be crowned champions, and achieve the honour at the very first time of asking having only been promoted into the top flight at the start of the current season.

As it turned out Heathcoat were to put on a truly champion performance at Creedy Park, helped by the winning of the toss which allowed skipper Pete Randerson to bat first on what he described as: “an absolute beauty of a road to bat on, it was a magnificent strip on which to put willow on leather.”

Randerson certainly made his point, making hay in the glorious sunshine to spray the ball to all parts, finishing unbeaten on 164 as he and fellow opener Liam Lewis both carried their bats throughout for the innings to close on 294-0. Lewis hit an unbeaten 120, the second time this term he has spanked a century off the Sandford attack.

The home side had no answer to that total and were bowled out for just 143 with only 17-year-old Ben Clements and Mike Canning, making any impression, both finishing with scores of 23. William Brown and Lee Dixon were both promoted from the 2^nd XI for the game, Brown finished with 3-21 and Dixon bagged a brace at a cost of 19 runs.

Speaking of the side’s title success the skipper said: “It’s no fluke. We have applied hard work throughout and for me the key has been players making themselves available during the campaign when I am sure one or two did not really want to be on duty two days over a weekend but they did and the net result is us being acclaimed as champions in what is a very competitive league. It’s been a very enjoyable and successful season and yes, we will be back next year to try and repeat this success.”

AT the other end of the First Division table Newton Tracey had a large contingent present at Victoria Park where they were hoping to see a home victory that would send Bideford down with Lynton & Lynmouth but it was the away side celebrating at stumps after they completed a final day great escape from the drop, winning the game by 77 runs to finish above Newton Tracey by .23 points average!

Will Barrett was the star of the Bideford show as he carried his bat for an unbeaten 98 in a total of 176-9. Dave Branch (3-21), Paul Tuson (3-24) and Mike Cashmore (2-43), were the home wicket takers but the reply floundered on 99 with only Mark Bettis (35) and Tuson (23), amongst the runs. Dave Smale with 4-14 and Chris Luxton with 3-10, ensured that Bideford live to fight another season in the top flight.

BRADNINCH fielded two of their strongest elevens of the campaign and saw off both North Devon and Filleigh in a double header weekend. On Saturday they beat the visiting side from Instow by 33 runs.

Ross Acton celebrated his appointment as the Keynsham Park side’s Saturday 1^st XI with 64 and other runs came from Tim Piper (33), Gary Chappell (31) and Dan Hardy (30). Tim Cook took 5-42 for North Devon who then replied with 205-8 led by another imperious innings from Dan Bowser who was eventually stumped by wicket keeper Tim Piper, off Acton, for 116. Mark Perrott took 4-23 for the home side.

Twenty four hours later and again Bradninch batted first, recovering from 56-4 to close on 214 with the principle contributions coming from Ross Acton (42), Gary Chappell (41), Paul Not (27no), Joel Murphy (25) and Richard Foan (16). Toby Lockhead, Jamie Palmer and Frank James, each took a couple of wickets. Filleigh’s reply was always up with the rate whilst the splendid Godfrey Tucker was at the crease. Tucker hit a run a ball 82 with five 6s and eight 4’s but, from 120-1 and 155-4, the reply slipped to 162-9 before a late flurry from the last pair before the innings closed on 199. Foan (4-34), Nott (2-22), Murphy (2-25) and Chappell (2-34), claimed the home wickets.

Lynton & Lynmouth could not raise a side to fulfil their final top flight engagement and so they conceded their Saturday game at Sandford.

Ten-times champions Braunton are back amongst the leading sides following their penultimate outing at title rivals Morebath that they won by a comprehensive margin of seven wickets. The Mid-Devon hosts were bundled out for 119, knocked off for the loss of just three wickets by Braunton.

Morebath need to win (or tie, or get rained off) against Shobrooke Park next weekend to finish second. If Morebath were to lose and get ten points, they would be overtaken at the final hurdle by Holsworthy who would finish above them by a 0.025 points average!

Lee Cole took 4-28 as Bratton Fleming were bundled out for 105, polished off by visiting Barnstaple & Pilton for the loss of just four wickets and there were 20 points gifted to already relegated Shobrooke Park when Saturday’s scheduled opponents Hatherleigh could not muster a side.

There was a cracking game at Barnstaple & Pilton where Filleigh II, with six teenagers in their ranks, won by two wickets. Rob Holm hit a superb unbeaten 90 and Matt Clark chipped in with 43 in a Barum posting of 200-5. Tim Fryer (2-16) and Emily Ward (2-32) were the main wicket takers for Filleigh who then had a fine 57 from Josh May to thank for their reply getting close to the required total.

However, the reply began to fall away and 43 were required from the final four overs when 13-year-old Joe Witheridge came to the wicket. The youngster then slammed four 6’s in a knock of 32 from just ten balls faced and Filleigh won with a ball to spare! McCauley Harrison0Hooton had earlier helped the cause with an excellent 24.

Shebbear sealed promotion out of Division with an eight wicket win at Bude where once again Martin Bray was in fine form. Bray hit 69 to lead the side to victory after he had earlier claimed three wickets as the hosts were bowled out for 140, 86 of which were struck by Sam Hockin who later bagged both the wickets to fall in the successful run chase.

Westleigh had gone into their game at Bratton Fleming knowing only a win would keep their slim promotion hopes alive and, thanks to a James Ford with 52 they did claim a three wicket win but news from Bude dampened their mood.

North Devon II claimed the points from a Saturday no show by Ilfracombe but the following day Ilfracombe did manage to muster a side to travel to champions Incorrigibles.

The Witheridge side won the contest by 124 runs and the game died produce the very first century on the new ground with Richard Ashworth hitting 100 in the home side’s offering of 256-4. Chris Kelmere (66) and Chris Weeks (26no) were also in the runs. John Matthews then top scored with 42 but 3-20 from Matt Weeks and 2-5 from his brother Luke, saw the visitors bundled out for 134 leaving Incorrigibles as the only side throughout the North Devon League to finish the campaign with a perfect 100% record.

The final promotion place out of Division Four was settled in the Saturday matches as a weakened Halberton side were well beaten at Kelseymen whilst Bideford II were winning well at Victoria Park II. Alan Withecombe (74) and Jack Perham (40no) were the main run getters in the Bideford total of 208-7. Ian Brown took 3-28 and his Father Mike (2-39) for the home side who replied with 165. Once again the Brown duo supplied the bulk of the effort, Mike hitting an unbeaten 20and Ian a top score of 31, there was also a knock of 21 from Will Anderson whilst Tom Farnell and Dave Small each claimed three wicket hauls for the victors who now go up alongside champions Weare Giffard.

Halberton’s team that travelled to Kelseymen was shorn of many football and rugby playing players, most of whom returned to the ranks the following day for the trip to Lynton & Lynmouth II where the Mid Devon men claimed a seven wicket win thanks to an outstanding innings from skipper Dan Coles. Batting first Lynton closed on 235-9 with Dave Proctor top scoring with 81 whilst both Pete Druce and Connor Constable each hit 31. Halberton skipper Coles then struck a flawless unbeaten 132 to lead his side to a seve-wicket win.

Another Division Four centurion was Tom Ansell who clobbered 104 in the North Devon III total of 228-6, answered by Newton Tracey II with 204-6, Jamie Overton claiming a brace of wickets.

JUST a pair of games in the bottom Division and they produced wins for Filleigh III and Heathcoat III.

Barnstaple & Pilton III were bundled out for 101 at home to Filleigh with only Pat McEndoo (26) making any impression again some fine bowling as Harley Ashdown (3-24), Simon Prosser (2-24) and Karl Shaw (2-10), claimed wickets. Jaz Kalsi then hit an unbeaten 63 to lead the visitors to a two-wicket win, James Rowe claimed 3-10 for Barum.

Bishops Nympton went through the entire season without a win after they lost their final outing at Heathcoat II where they were bowled out for 159 with John Varney hitting their top score of 25. Matt Handford (3-23) and Matt Lilley (3-35) took the wickets and then Matt Lilley (47) and Pete Guest (28) led the Knightshayes side to a four-wicket victory making it a great night at their HQ when the 1^st XI returned from Sandford with the First Division title in the bag.