DEVON'S two representative games fell foul of the weather today when they were washed off without a ball bowled in anger.

   Devon U21s were due to open their Southern Counties Championship campaign against Dorset at Dean Park, Bournemouth.

   Dorset officials contacted their Devon counterparts on Saturday night to say there was no point travelling as the ground was waterlogged.

   Devon will be hoping for better luck with the weather in their second match, which is at home to the Isle of Wight at Tavistock on Wednesday.

   A Devon Development XI was due to play the Royal Navy at Sidmouth in a friendly. But that match suffered a slow and lingering death.

   The start was put back from 11am to 1.30pm with a planned reduction from 50 overs to 40.

Lunchtime rain forced the umpires to have another look and they ruled there was no prospect of play on the prepared track.

   “They were concerned the bowlers run ups were too slippery to be safe,” said Devon team manager George Gribble.

   “As it wasn't possible to prepare another strip, we had to call the game off, which is a huge disappointment to everyone.

   “We had players we wanted to look at – and the Navy wanted a warm-up game for their match against the Army this week in the Inter-Services Championship.”