WEEK 10 of the North Devon Cricket league season was seriously hit by the weather with half of the programme affected and although most games started, only one in two managed a finish.
The top divison was hardest hit with three of the four games meeting a watery grave and in general when all were poised to throw up thrilling finishes.
North Devon began the weekend as joint leaders of the First Division but ended it as outright leaders after they beat Filleigh by 159 runs. Stuart Rhodes hit 94 and other runs came from Warren Miller (36no), Matt Westaway (31), Dan Pickard (29), Ross Burbidge (21) and Tom Dart (18no) in a total of 257-4. Filleigh's Mike Prideaux claimed 3-37 but his side were reduced to 108 in the reply with only Jazz Kalsi (37) making any real impression with the bat. Matt Dart was the ace with the ball, he bagged 4-28 and the win takes North Devon .53 of a points average clear at the top of the table.
Bideford had shared the leadership but they were left frustrated by the weather in a Match with Newton St. Cyres that promised much given the host posting of an imposing 249-8 and the Tracey reply was set at 49-0 at five runs an over when the rains arrived. The Allin's were the stars of the show for Bideford. Matt hit 56 and Tom 52 whilst Dan Bowser chipped in with 48 and Sam Hughes weighed in with 28 in their sides 249-8, three wickets for Simon Gear but half way through the 11 th over the rain became too much to bear and the game was abandoned.
A similar fate befell the game at Beaford and it was the home side who were left chastising the rains for they were poised on 103-4, just 40 runs short of a much needed second win of the campaign, and they had six wickets in hand when the weather forced the sides off. Pete Glass (46) and Paul Smith (35) helped their side labour their way to 142, Martin Barrett took 3-12 and that feat was matched by Ali McMillan with 3-11, both players were then responsible for putting their side into that potentially winning position before the rain intervention. Barrett top scored with 27 whilst McMillan was unbeaten on 21 when the game was abandoned.
Barnstaple & Pilton were another side to curse the fact that “flaming June” decided to hide behind dark clouds - they had North Molton on a perilous 55-6 against their own 139 and with Bobby Pedlar having claimed 4-20 in nine overs Barum looked well set to claim a first win of the season before some ‘ divine intervention ‘. Robin Lake with an unbeaten 35 had led his side to their total, Pete Davis (16) was the only visiting bat to have a score in the book
In Division Two, just as in the top tier the only game to be played involved the leaders and the Mid Devon ‘derby' at Bradninch saw visitors Heathcoat put to the sword and for the second Sunday running teenage all rounder Ross Acton was a centurion as he hit an unbeaten 103.
Acton was in great form, the previous week he had struck a ton against another Mid Devon side, Shobrooke Park, and he repeated the exercise showing no mercy to the Heathcoat bowlers. After Ryan Butterworth (80) and Gary Chappell (41) had put on 128 for the first wicket Acton bludgeoned his way to 50 at a run a ball and then opened up to rush to his century with his second fifty arriving in just 16 balls! Bradninch closed their innings on 287-4 and then Heathcoat were bowled out for 137 with only Justin Williams - who took three of the hosts wickets, top scoring with 51 an d Sean Dick hit 23 but the home bowlers were on top led by Luke Wrightson (3-27) and other wickets fell to Henry Scott (2-42), Alex Dunlavey (2-26), Les Kent (2-6) and Gary Chappell (1-4). Bradninch look well on course to gain a place in the top Division to complete a season on season rise through the Divisions to the top table.
Meanwhile over at Bratton Fleming the home side were a third of the way to a win over visiting Braunton when the rain spilt a potentially exciting finish. The visitors had been bowled out for 180, Dave Cresswell top scoring with 47 whilst Nick Dartnoll (4-30), James Tapp (3-16) and Stevie Kingdom (3-34) saw to the wicket taking for the hosts who were 60-3 after 18 overs when the game was called off.
Filleigh II remain the only 100% side in Division Three and their next fixture marks the half way point of their programme. On Sunday they were in a spot of bother at 51-4 replying to hosts Incorrigibles 153-7 when the rain intervened but there was a full game for Holsworthy and they left Creedy Park with a six wicket win over Sandford II. Jack Scuse (53no) and John Tidball were responsible for the 164-4 for their side that passed the hosts 163 in which Duncan Edwards (3-20) and Keith Drew (3-16) took wickets. The result takes Holsworthy into second place in the Division.
Hatherleigh were three wicket winners over North Devon II thanks to an unbroken eighth wicket partnership between Tom Rogers (27no) and Richard Tidball (16no) who came together at the wicket with their side in a heap of bother at 114-7 chasing the visitors 158-8. Tom Stanton had earlier hit 51 James Starkey 45 and John Wainwright 35 for the away side whilst Nicholas Scott-Rogers claimed 3-42 for the hosts.
Bude were left without a game when Tiverton & Bickleigh cried off unable to raise a side.
In Division Four Black Torrington were left kicking their heels with the resignation from the league of Cullompton and Lynton & Lynmouth II, bottom of the table without a win, were left cursing the rain after they had posted a healthy 269-6 against visiting Cheriton Fitzpaine who were 49 without loss after 17 overs of the reply when the rain intervened. Graham Fitt and Chris Hatt both hit half centuries, James Snell struck 46.
The days quickest finish came at Shebbear I the game between the unbeaten table topping hosts and 2 nd placed Victoria Park and the latter were new leaders by the end of the game courtesy of a nine wicket win in a Match that was all done and dusted by 3.45pm! Only Andy Bryan (15) made any impression for the home side as they were humbled for a paltry 46, Tom Anderson (4-27) and Mike Adams (4-19) doing the damage for Victoria Park who knocked off the runs very quickly thanks to Mark Bettis's unbeaten 32.
Division Five leaders Bideford II march on, they secured another maximum courtesy of a six wicket win at Newton Tracey II where the home side were bowled out for 152 and then Peter Steven (47), Kevin Fish Leigh (32no) and Alex Wood (22no) saw their side home in some comfort.
Bishop Nympton laboured their way to 156-7 with John Verney top scoring with 33 and then visitors North Devon III were poised on 44 without loss when the rains came.
Division Six continues to have two teams sharing the leadership. Halberton & Sampford Peverell were not in action but Weare Giffard were and then chalked up another win. Last weeks double centurion Scott Huxtable was once again the League new boys top scorer although a little more conservative this week, he was unbeaten on 27 with Martin Beer also unbeaten on 19 when their side passed the 62 total that visitors North Molton II had totalled. Ian Jury claimed 4-12 and there were two wickets each for Jules Cox, Michael Hedden and Andy Havill. Ilfracombe II picked up a first win of the season as they beat Filleigh III and the game at Witheridge saw Nomansland beat Bradninch II by seven wickets. Defeat for Bradninch did not come as too much of a surprise as they travelled a couple of players light but as Secretary Chris Dean pointed out the “plusses” for his Club were the fact that for the first time since 1991 the ambitious Keynsham Park side had fielded three Saturday XI's with the Club also fielding two sides in the Francis Clark Devon League. The game was also a personal triumph for Father and Son combination of Nick and Chris Dean who came together at the wicket with their side on 21-3 and took the total to 65-4 before the innings eventually finished on 107. Dean Junior hit his sides top score of 42, Father Chris scored 31 whilst one of the Clubs Colts Brandon Stopforth marked his first ever Senior XI game for the Club with a wicket, one of the four hosts wickets to be claimed in their successful run chase.