STEVE BIRLEY REPORTING - JULY 22, 2007
THERE'S no change at the top of the First Division of the North Devon Cricket League after Sunday's round of matches, played almost to a match across the region with only the odd exception being severely waterlogged grounds.
Leaders North Devon made short work of seeing off struggling Ilfracombe. Dan Pickard (95), Ross Burbidge (54) and Leon Loveridge (67) led their side to an imposing 307-9, Rob Holme took 3-82 for Ilfracombe who were then bundled out for 102 with John Sutton (55no). Stuart Rhodes claimed 4-21 and 13 year olds Craig and Jamie Overton both bagged two wickets.
Bideford stay in the hunt but they were given an almighty fright by Barnstaple & Pilton and will probably count themselves fortunate to have won the game as at one stage it had seemed as if Barum would spring a big surprise.
Dan Bowser (84) and Will Barrett (24) and Sam Hughes (20), were the leading scorers in a total of 161-8. The Barum chances were hit when Robin Norton had to leave the field through injury - he returned at the death to try and see his side over the line - Frank Biederman top scored with 55 and Steve Wheatley chipped in with 39, but Luke Kerr (3-39) and Chris Luxton (2-9) bowled Bideford to victory when the final Barum wicket fell with them just four runs shy of getting a tie.
Newton Tracey are very much in the mix and chalked up another win with a two-wicket success at home to Beaford who were restricted to 142-9, Rob Gear taking 4-13 whilst Phil Steward led the successful run chase with 33, Mike Wigley did his bit for the Beaford cause with 3-29 but Newton Tracey got home with two wickets to spare.
Filleigh are probably the fifth of the title hopefuls and the defeat they inflicted on Sandford probably ends the Creedy Park men's challenge given its their third reversal of the campaign and it is widely accepted that two defeats is the most a side can afford in staking serious claims to the First Division title.
Shane Evenden (52), Brent Howard (32) and Brian Leach (27) guided the home team to 192-7 which was answered with 193-9 by Filleigh despite a three-wicket haul for Simon Ashplant. Mark Prideaux, not for the first time, led Filleigh home with a superb 90 but it was the last two at the wicket who took Filleigh to the single-wicket win, John Hickman (16) and Gary Henry (5) were the two batsmen who nudged their side over the line.
In Division Two Victoria Park maintained their 100 per cent record with a three-wicket win at Westleigh. The home sides James Ford can consider himself unlucky to be on the losing side. It was a mixed weekend for the Bideford skipper, a ‘duck' on Saturday was answered with a splendid innings of 98 for Westleigh but in a possible act of ‘jug evasion' he swung across the line on 98 and made the walk back to the pavilion without yet another century to his name.
Andy Seaman made his first appearance of the season for the home side and marked it with a solid 46 as Westleigh closed on 188-9.
Four wickets for Dave Branch and three for Paul Tuson for Victoria Park who kept up their perfect campaign with a three wicket win led home by John Glass (79), Will Anderson was the next best contributor with 35, Danny Donovan claimed 4-53 for the losers.
Lynton & Lynmouth kept up their challenge, they know that for them to go up they must keep winning and hope that one of the two 100 per cent sides above them, Victoria Park and Bradninch, slip up. Ted Cumming was once again the Bratton top scorer with 35. Adam Payne hit 13 whilst both Pete Simmons and Steve Brasier scored 12. Nick Bowen took one wicket but the bowling honours were shared between Matt Ryan (4-19) and Graham Fitt (4-20).
The home side were cruising to a comfortable win at 113-3 but then had a serious ‘wobble' before getting home at 129-7. Gary Jones top scored with 35, he and Simon Bowen (23) gave their side the perfect start, Mike Hill later chipped in with 28 and Matt Fitt scored 19.
It's a wide-open race for the title and indeed the second promotion spot in Division Three with as many as six teams in the running.
The latest side to head the table are Incorrigibles who were grateful for their South African who hit a half century to guide the side to a win at Tiverton & Bickleigh. The home side were bowled out for 126 with Jerry Reed top scoring with 58, but Riaan Jeggels did a similar job for his side and the Witheridge-based visitors won with five wickets to spare. Defeat for Tiverton leaves them staring down the barrel of a return to Division Four.
Hatherleigh still have an interest and they beat Morebath by five wickets. Gareth Tidball, Richard Tidball and Andrew Fishleigh each took two wickets as visiting Morebath were bowled out for 141, Hatherleigh got home thanks to Shane Dillings unbeaten 38.
Holsworthy had too much for Filleigh II winning the game by 55 runs. John Snell hit a fine unbeaten 74 as he and Steve Drew (45no) combined to lead their side to a healthy 221-5, which was answered with 166 all out by Filleigh II, Keith Drew took 3-26 and Dan Bowden took 2-21.
In Division Four, Black Torrington were bowled out for 100 by Bratton Fleming II, Gem Irons top scored with 23 for the home side, Ian Davis then took 3-16 but couldn't prevent the visitors winning on 104-7.
Cheriton Fitzpaine had been due to play their final away game of the campaign but with scheduled hosts Victoria Park's pitch ‘under water' the game was switched to the Cheriton ground and the ‘home' side won the game by 46 runs.
James Gordon (54no), Philip Cutler (36), Greg Mason (34) and Mike Foan (27) led their side to 188-7 and then Will Carr (3-34), Ben Coe (2-8), Jeremy Trix (2-29) and Cutler (2-23) bowled out the visitors for 142.
Just one game remains for Cheriton and one sad statistic of this soggy summer is that the Cherries' league away record for the season of 2007 will show just one match played!
In Division Five the Barnstaple & Pilton II meeting with North Devon suffered a watery grave with the Barum pitch waterlogged.
There was action at Braunton where Kelseymen did well to bowl out visiting Bideford II for just 127, but then capitulated themselves for 75. Alex Wood was the Bideford hero, he top scored with 48 and then took 5-15 from a five-over spell.
The fastest game of the day took place at Bishops Nympton where the game was over so quickly that the local newspaper photographer had to ask for a hastily arranged ‘knock a bout' to stage pictures of the game
Westleigh II arrived with a number of regular players missing. The visitors were asked to bat and were all out off the first ball of the 18th over - for 14! It's a new league record for the lowest score mind you Bishop's skipper Kelvyn Warren has seen his side do this before, last year his side bowled Black Torrington out for 23.
Warren said: “To be fair to them (Westleigh) they were under strength but I still didn't expect the game to be over that quickly.”
Weare Giffard maintained their 100 per cent Division Six record and ended the run of Halberton with a five wicket win, but both sides should end up in the promotion berths. Halberton were bowled out for 143, Mike Hedden then hit 53 to guide his side to victory.
Bradninch II went down by 70 runs at North Molton II. Matt Geen (87) and Guy Loosemore (49) led their side to 202-7, Chris Cole (3-20) and Gordon McGovern (3-18) did the damage with the ball as Bradninch were bowled out for 132.