Up until 11.57am on the second day Devon were surprisingly in with a reasonable chance of taking the first innings lead. Unfortunately they capitulated to 214 all out just before lunch to fall short by 40 runs. With James Burke called away to play for Somerset IIs Chris Metters, who has made his full County debut took over the helm in this new venture of a pre ECB competition friendly with Somerset. With Taunton School coming second at the Dulwich schools’ festival, Shane Evenden and Justin Williams retiring from county cricket and a rugby tour taking Harry Stephenson out of the reckoning only five of the side that came second at the Isle of Wight Festival, the previous August, were present at the well appointed Taunton Vale Cricket Ground. An interrupted day was the weather forecast but amazingly the only rain that arrived was a sharp shower immediately after close of play. Chris Metters called incorrectly and Somerset batted. Apart from an easy chance to the keeper off opening bowler Lewis Gregory their openings, Haggett and Beal were in no difficulty as they put on 76 in twenty overs. After 67 minutes Metters turned to spin and this had an immediate effect on the game as Beal was caught by the captain after an assist from first slip Gregory to give leg spinner Gilmour his first wicket. Three runs later Gregory dived to take a fine slip catch to remove Jenkins off the captain. The situation improved even further when the dangerous Callum Haggett was trapped in front for a seventy-two ball 45 by Gilmour whose figures were then 3-19 off six. Metters was employing attacking fields as debutant Peter Randleson and Luke Tuckett auditioned for the helmet role for the summer. With a ring of fielders putting on pressure Walker and Ellison were able to put on twenty-four when the Metters / Gilmour combination struck again with an excellent one handed catch. Lunch was taken at 113-5 as Gilmour took his fourth wicket when Thompson took the catch. The England under 17 coach Andy Pick had been in contact to advise that Lewis Gregory had deservedly been selected to play for the national under 17 team against the Combined Services the following week. Twenty-eight were added post lunch when Gilmour took his fifth wicket this time thanks to another excellent catch this time by Tuckett under the lid. The second debutant Peter Steer bowled an economical spell but his wide in the thirty-ninth over was the first extra of the day. The seventh wicket pairing of Walker and Skidmore took the home side on by another 40 to reach 181 when Plympton’s new opening bowler Gregory bowled Walker for 42 with the seventh ball of his second spell, all of which had been dots. Forty-six was the product of the eighth wicket when Barney Huxtable gave the captain his second wicket. Somewhat annoyingly a number of chances were not being accepted and the general standard of out fielding was no where near up to the standard that will be sought at both sixteen’s and seventeen’s. Joe Smith succinctly summed up the situation in his post match review but there will have to be a huge improvement by many when the sixteen and seventeen’s seasons start in earnest. It was the one disappointment of the day and is not a situation that is acceptable, much work is necessary. Gregory, and the other close fielders, can be excluded from this criticism as he dived again to take his second catch off Metters on 254. Matt Thompson took his second catch to give Alex Carr his first victim as there were no additions to the score. Extras were a real plus with just three wides and three leg byes in the total. Gilmour’s return of 5-91 off 23 was the nineteenth best figures at this level. Tea was taken and a new opening partnership would be looked at to give the side a sound start.

The new pairing of Thompson and Randerson put on 67 when in the twentieth over Jack Leach dismissed Thompson when he lured him forward to be stumped by the understudy keeper, Jenkins, who had only just replaced the injured Smit. With under fifteen Barney Huxtable playing with his own age group the next day he was promoted over Lewis Gregory with the object of demonstrating his immense talent over the remaining 47 minutes of play. He was unfortunately out after only ten minutes at the crease rather bizarrely run out when having made his ground he was unaware that the fielder had retuned the ball to hit the stumps direct with his bat in the air. A stiff learning curve this seventeen cricket but it is unlikely that he will repeat this basic error in the future. Despite thunder in the background and increasing cloud cover the now restored Gregory and Randleson took the side to close of play at 128 off thirty-three overs. There had been one hundred and ten in the day, as Thompson ensured a more than acceptable over rate of 20.4 per hour. Randleson passed his first fifty off 78 balls and was undefeated on 60.

Again the forecast predicted some showers of possible prolonged length and although Devon manned the covers for half an hour, play was not interrupted despite a few spots. Throughout the two days the host club could not have been more co-operative with the ground team and caters exceptional. The captain’s day did not start well with a three pointer and a loss of £60.00 but improved as Randerson and Gregory took his side up to 174 (partnership of 96 off 142 balls in 74 minutes) when Randerson’s impressive first innings ended 16 short of a record hundred on county debut. He was Leach’s second wicket trapped in front. It had been one of the most remarkable first performances at this level and he looked at ease in this environment. He had faced 133 balls in 155 minutes hitting forty of his runs in fours. The alarm bells were not yet ringing but were soon to be turned on as Gregory was bowled by Leach for a eighty-five ball 52. The wheels then did fall off as one run later Gilmour was leg before for a duck and at 200 (off 13 less balls that the hosts) the captain was caught behind for 20. Fourteen runs and eighty balls later it was all over as Devon sadly disintegrated. Leach finished with the fine figures of 6-45 off 27 overs, 11 maidens. The last four batters all reached 2 with Peter Steer unbeaten. A very very sorry demise. Agreement was reached that for the final two sessions a 35 over per side game would be contemplated and Devon would have declared had Toby Ingham not holed out on the penultimate ball before lunch.

Metters lost his second toss in two days, Calam Haggett scored a 93 ball 103, Chris Jones back from his game with Somerset twos the previous day 54 off 62 and Ellison unbeaten on 24 (23mis; 23 balls). Devon eventually took 8 wickets with Alex Carr taking 3-55 and Lewis Gregory 3-23. The final 224 at 6.4 looked an improbable target. Gregory fell at 34, so did Shergold and 29 runs later Gilmour was caught for one run more than in the morning session. Randerson now passed his second fifty of the match (43 balls) and was run out for 57 as both he and Metters tried to convert a miss fielded one into what should have been a confortable two and failed. It was game over at 106 as Metters and Ingham were dismissed. Matt Thompson and Luke Tuckett put on the best partnership of the innings (54 - 65 balls, 37 minutes). Tuckett was the second poor run out of the innings for a promising 33 (31 balls, 37 mins, 4 fours). Jack Bradbury had very kindly filled the void left by James Burke and the injured Sam Smith, who was present all day, added five runs to a useful outfield catch. Peter Steer felt that he should not be unbeaten twice in a day and skied his first and the innings last ball to leave Thompson with a red inker and 21 to add to his first innings 28. The final 170 was much higher that had been estimated at 106-6 and reflected a improved batting performance. Skidmore took 3-17, Brookwell 3-43 and Leach wicket less as he was struck for three sixes in his thirty runes off seven.

In many ways the second day had been a major anti climax after  what had been a promising first day. The Taunton School contingent of Bess, Dibble and Debenham joined the side for tea. Coach Joe Smith will have a major task over the forthcoming weeks to improve the general standard of fielding and some thought must be given to the running. Peter Randerson could however return to Tiverton in the knowledge that he had completed one of the more memorable starts in county youth cricket.