Devon were in with a chance in this game on perhaps only two occassions as they allowed their opponents to score virtually three hundred runs on the first day as they fielded and bowled to an unacceptable standard, had they won on first innings they would have been promoted, the deserved twenty points Dorset picked up from the game saved them from the drop. For the second successive summer, with promotion in the offing, the management was unable to inspire and motivate a group to just take the final step and, for the first time in seventeen summers, real self doubt has entered the mind. The sell by date has been checked and has clearly expired. As last year, the game plan was to bat second to dictate the game and, as last year, we batted second and came second by the proverbial country mile indeed in this case at least two. In future they would be advised to stick to batting first. All seemed to be going to plan as at lunch on the first day  Dorset were 77-4 with stumps being uprooted by Burke (twice) and Gregory. Tuckett held a good catch diving away at mid off of Gilmour. This was the first time that Devon seemed in control, it did not last as forty-seven were added for the fourth wicket, and 107 for the fifth. First Carter was held down the leg side by Thompson to give Hickey his first wicket and Ingham bowled top scorer Trembath for a 91 ball 78, the highest score of the game. Devon then got back into the game for the final time as Dorset were reduced to 195-8, Ingham took his second wicket in the same manner as his first, the Burke Thompson combination took out Kendrick. It was from the entry of Wilson that Devon were never again in a position to win the game. Sixty were added for the ninth wicket Thompson/Hickey took out Ladd Gibbon two overs after the new ball was available but because of an error spares had not yet arrived from West Buckland could not be taken and another 38 were added for the tenth when eventually James Burke took his fourth and final wicket when he bowled Blake in the ninety-five over. With Burke away the next day bowling to the England batters at the Oval it was still agreed that it was worth his wicket to bat him for the seven overs available that evening. If this was to be successful Thompson had to be not out as two wickets would be a huge waste. Thompson was caught behind fourth ball of the innings making the plan a total failure. Burke did his stuff hitting the final over of the day for twenty. The gamble had not been a success as Devon were now 37-2 and had we been the opposition we would have been delighted to learn that a batsman, who had scored two premier league centuries, played for England Under 17s against New Zealand would not be returning to the crease, instead it created the opposite response. The question to be asked was the gamble of playing him for just the first day worth it, in view of the lack of notice and the known availabilty that had already been tested with the withdrawal from County Cricket of Dan Winsor at 3.00pm, four wickets and 31 runs was a reasonable return but had he been available for the  second day it is possible that he would have had a major influence on the result, changing the whole atmosphere of the home dressing room as Devon were now in a very poor position at 37-2. There would not have been the eagerness to bat second if he had been available for the full game.

Nest morning there was an unusual tension in the Devon camp that did not bode well in the quest for 226 runs for 8 wickets. The quest never really got started, Randleson and Gregory started well until Randleson was bowled for a disappointing 19 having added 41 without any apparent obvious concerns. Indeed the atmosphere in the pavilion improved as the home side started talking amongst themselves again. They should not have. The captain started slowly, but began to time the ball in a similar manner to Gregory and then was caught at deep square off leg spinner opposition captain Stickland. His own response to this constant weak link in his armoury said it all. They had added 56 when a partnership at least twice the size had been needed. Gregory got past forty but was caught flashing at the leg spinner to be out to a juggle at slip. Game over, Metters hit a straight six and one over mid wicket but has been a spent force for a month; he had played too much cricket but is such a vital name on the team sheet. Winsor's original inclusion had been intended to take the pressure off him. A new Gray-Nicolls was never a starter. He was Sticklands third victim as the ball bounced, Hickey his fourth caught behind and Gilmour his fifth stumped as three wickets fell quickly after lunch. There were no last rights, Zak Bess tried but he was not in the side to play the major innings, Tuckett was unlucky but had he lasted another fifty balls it would have made little difference. We had needed at least a hundred from one of the top order and for the others to provide fifties. Gregory’s innings of 72 off 106 balls, eleven fours was a top effort but he knew and the side knew we were only going to get the runs if he or someone else in the top order had passed three figures, Gregory will make a huge impact in the game and has added much to the side over the summer but another thirty should have got us home as the others would have batted around him. Reads harsh but he does accept it and it is one of the pressures of being an exceptionally talented player who is also a great bloke.  It was the pressure of the situation that took most of the wickets and was created by first conceding virtually 300 the previous day, now batting second they had to get them, it was never going to be easy. If only........ then we might not have bowled the opposition out second day so there is no real point dwelling but you do! Dorset then made it 512-17 on a typical flat Exmouth track. Devon increased their point tally by a sufficient amount to come third in a pointless 188 minutes, six minutes longer than the home side had survived. A disappointing end to the season. There is talk of a complete review of under 17 cricket possibly reverting to regions but if not, for those remaining, it is off to Essex, Hampshire, Witshire, Gloucestershire, Dorset and Buckinghamshire next summer for you.