NORTH DEVON LEAGUE – WEEK FOUR (May 5)
THERE was a big surprise in the First Division at Bideford where the hosts defeated champions North Molton by eight wickets.
North Molton, winners last week over Sandford, were shorn of half a dozen regulars but this was still a huge result as it is widely accepted that a couple of defeats and title chances are restricted and so for last Seasons champions to have been beaten in only their second outing there's already precious margin for further error! Jeff Dummett top scored with 95, skipper Tom Wright and late order James Tapp both got 20 but the total of 193-9, Matt Bettis bagged four wickets for Bideford who made the visitors total look far too few as they blasted their way to a rapid fire victory knocking off the runs in just 28 overs led by Sam Hughes who hit a wonderful unbeaten 83 off just 67 balls.
Newton Tracey were comfortable six-wicket winners at Ilfracombe. The home side were dismissed for just 98, Dave Hart top scored with 20, Walid Iqbal scored 14 but Steve Barter took 5-30 and Gary Chatham 3-16 and then Simon Geer and Tom Williams both cored 20 in Newton Tracey's 102-4.
The game at Beaford was one of three to be hit by the late afternoon rain. Filleigh had posted a demanding 264-6 with Mark Prideaux top scoring with 84, two wickets for both Alan James and Ali McMilland and then Beaford were well placed on 138-3 with 18 overs to go when the rain intervened. Geoff Lake (39) and Mike Wigley (39) were already both back in the Pavilion.
Three games were played in Division Two and newly promoted Bradninch continue to blaze a trail at the top after a third successive win, this time by 19 runs over visiting Bratton Fleming. The Mid Devon side posted a useful 246-8, skipper Gary Chappell leading the way with 84 whilst Chris Acton also hit a half century and then the visitors made a great attempt to chase the runs down but came up just short. Ted Cumming top scored with 59 and Paul Jellicoe, who had earlier taken two wickets, struck 39. home skipper Chappell bagged four wickets and there were two for both Les Kent and Ross Acton.
The Mid Devon derby at Knightshayes was a thriller with Shobrooke Park taking the points away with them courtesy of a single run win. Park batted first and were skittled out for 133, Jon Barnes top scoring with 23, teenager Matt Hague took 4-27 whilst John Harvey and Ian Chick both claimed three wickets for Heathcoat who got agonisingly close, falling just one run short when last man Hague was bowled by Brian Randall for 13. Ben Trenaman and John Sweeney both took two wickets for the winners.
Lynton & Lynmouth scored a huge 316-6 and then bowled hosts Westleigh out for just 120 and Graham Fitt had an afternoon to remember as he hit a ton and then claimed a fivefer . Fitt (108), Mark Jones (46) and Father Gary Jones (44) saw their side to their formidable total and then Fitt claimed 5-17 in nine overs whilst Steve Hobbs took 3-29, Lee Farrant was the only bat to trouble the scorers, he made 22.
In Division Three it is Incorrigibles who are setting the early pace and they chalked up win number three from three with a three-wicket win over visiting North Devon 2. The visitors batted first and were bowled out for 194, Stuart Rhodes (48) and James Starkey (37) the main contributors, James Hope claimed 5-12 in nine excellent overs and there were two wickets each for Alex Elston and 14 year old Ryan Bowden. Gary Say then hit an unbeaten 79 and together with Ed Pinkum (30) and Matt Rice (20) saw his side to a win that was confirmed in the penultimate over when Henry Hayden hit a boundary.
There was a Mid Devon derby at Tiverton & Bickleigh where Sandford II were victorious. Ben Schofield hit an unbeaten 71 a taking the home side to 153 and although the reply was laboured Sandford got there in the end with the father-and-son Gibson combination of son, James (67) and father Andy (36) seeing their side to a three-wicket win. Chris Firth claimed four wickets for the losers.
The game at Hoslworthy met a watery grave. Morebath had scored a healthy 214, John Chilcott scoring 101, three wickets for Steve Drew and two for Duncan Edwards and Holsworthy were well placed on 94-3 with Jack Scuse in good form unbeaten on 40 when the rain brought proceedings to a premature end.
Two games were played in Division Four. Cheriton Fitzpaine were surprisingly beaten at home by Victoria Park II. The visitors batted first and posted a par score of 220. Adam Oliver (69), Tim Lane (44) and Will Anderson (30) were the main contributors whilst Robbie Keight took 5-43 and Ted Brigden 4-48 but the Cheriton reply never quite got going and they closed 27 runs short on 193-9. Peter Blight led the way with 40, Brigden got 36, and Tom Anderson bagged the bowling honours with 5-22.
Shebbear got the better of visiting Black Torrington in a low scoring affair. Batting first Shebbear were bowled out for 151 with Ollie Wickett scoring 30. Ian Cockwill took three wickets and then led the run chase with 22 but a five-wicket haul for Jamie Pengelly (5-14) and two wickets for-wicket saw the visitors restricted to a reply of 126 giving the home side a 25 run victory.
In Division Five there were two games. The Kelseymen versus Bishop Nympton game was well set for a thrilling finish when rain spoiled proceedings. Neil Lockhead with 62 and Mike Gregory with 39 under pinned the Nympton total of 157, four wickets for Bob Horrell and three for Tom Johnson and then with Steve Cresswell unbeaten on 49 and Kelseymen on 110-5 the rains came and ended a game that could have gone either way.
North Molton II saw off Filleigh III after the home side posted a score of 221 with Gordon McGovern top scoring with 83, Filleigh III could only muster 130 in reply, four wickets to Chris Cole.
DIVISION ONE
North Molton 193-9 (J Dummett 95, T Wright 20, J Tapp 20; M Bettis 4-48), Bideford 194-2 (S Hughes 83no, M Allin 21; T Wright 2-31). Bideford (20pts) bt North Molton (2) by 8 wkts.
Filleigh 264-6 (M Prideaux 84; A McMillan 2-50, A James 2-60), Beaford 138-3 (G Lake 39, M Wrigley 38). Rain stopped play Match Abandoned.
Ilfracombe 98 (D Hart 20, W Iqbal 14; S Barter 5-30, G Chatham 3-16), Newton Tracey 102-4 (S Gear 20, T Wilkinson 20; M Cavanagh 2-14). Newton Tracey (20pts) bt Ilfracombe (4) by 6 wkts.
DIVISION TWO
Bradninch 246-8 (G Chappell 84, C Acton 52, L Fencl 36; P Jellicoe 2-55), Bratton Fleming 227 (T Cumming 59, P Jellicoe 39; G Chappell 4-46, L Kent 2-18, R Acton 2-27). Bradninch (20pts) bt Bratton Fleming (10) by 19 runs.
Lynton & Lynmouth 316-6 (G Fitt 108, M Jones 46, G Jones 44; D Tresgaskis 3-67), Westleigh 120 (L Farrant 22; G Fitt 5-17, S Hobbs 3-29). Lynton & Lynmouth (20pts) bt Westleigh (0) by 196 runs.
Shobrooke Park 133 (J Barnes 23; M Hague 4-27, J Harvey 3-10, I Chick 3-39), Heathcoat 132 (T Frankpit 53, H Frankpit 14; J Sweeney 2-14, B Trenaman 2-32). Shobrooke Park (20pts) bt Heathcoat (10) by 1 run
DIVISION THREE
Morebath 214 (J Chilcott 101; S Drew 3-38, D Edwards 2-18), Holsworthy 94-3 (J Skuse 40no). Rain stopped play Match Abandoned.
North Devon II 194 (S Rhodes 48, J Starkey 37; J Hope 5-12, R Bowden 2-34, A Elston 2-53), Incorrigibles 198-7 (G Say 79no, E Pinkum 30, M Rice 20; S Rhodes 3-11). Incorrigibles (20pts) bt North Devon II (7) by 3 wkts.
Tiverton & Bickleigh 153 (B Schofield 71no; J Matten 2-30), Sandford II 154-7 (J Gibson 67, D Gibson 36; C Firth 4-17). Sandford II (20pts) bt Tiverton & Bickleigh (7) by 3 wkts.
DIVISION FOUR
Victoria Park II 220 (A Oliver 69, T Lane 44, W Anderson 30; R Keight 5-43, T Brigden 4-48), Cheriton Fitzpaine 193-9 (P Blight 40, T Brigden 36; T Anderson 5-22). Victoria Park (20pts) bt Cheriton Fitzpaine (8) by 27 runs.
Shebbear 151 (O Wickett 30; I Cockwill 3-31, I Jones 2-29), Black Torrington 126 (I Cockwill 22; J Pengelly 5-14, O-wicket 2-24). Shebbear (20pts) bt Black Torrington (8) by 25 runs.
DIVISION FIVE
Bishop Nympton 157 (N Lockhead 62, M Gregopry 39; B Horrell 4-9, T Johnson 3-20), Kelseymen 110-5 (S Cresswell 49no, J Spicer 14no; C Read 2-27). Rain stopped play Match Abandoned.
DIVISION SIX
North Molton II 221 (G McGovern 83), Filleigh III 130 (C Cole 4-34). North Molton II (20pts) by Filleigh III (2) by 91 runs.