It's Torquay's title after 18-year wait

 

Torquay celebrate on the pitch at Bovey Tracey after clinching the Premier Division title

JOB done! Torquay are the Tolchard’s  Devon League Premier Division champions for the first time since 1997 after routing Bovey Tracey by six wickets.

Defending champions Sidmouth were the only side left who could have caught Torquay at the top – and do to that the leaders had to lose and they had to beat North Devon.

Torquay’s win at Bovey Tracey rendered the Sidmouth result meaningless anyway, although they lost by 35 runs.

Torquay have come a long way in a relatively short space of time as they were only promoted back into the Premier Division in 2012.

Four years earlier the club was in disarray having pulled its 2nd XI out of the league and starting again at the bottom in the E Division West with the 3rd XI renamed the 2nd XI.

Player numbers were the problem – not enough to get three sides out on a Saturday – and the 1st XI was largely made up of the previous year’s 2nd XI.

Torquay had to take a step back go forward – they spent two years out of the top flight – but four years after returning to the Premier they are champions.

League chairman Stuart Munday plans to visit Torquay this Saturday before the final game against Plympton to present skipper Justin Yau with the Premier Division silverware.

There will be two special guests at the handover – former Torquay players Gary Wallen and Barrie Matthews, who were member of the side who won the title without losing a game in the summer of 1976.

“It is going to be a fantastic occasion,” said Yau. “Two real legends of Torquay CC with us on a special day.”

Yau has been captain for all-but two of the seasons since 2008 and instrumental in turning the club’s fortunes around.

He was quick to share the credit round though, saying: “Through thick and thin players like the two Thompsons and Nick Watkin have never wavered from our cause.

“It is still a young side with an average age of around 25 and if it stays together can only improve.”

Bovey Tracey were bowled out for 117 by spinners Max Waller (4-19) and Matt Petherbridge (3-20).

After a softening up from Torquay pacemen Ryan Stevenson, who is expected to sign a two-year contract with Hampshire any day now, Waller and Petherbridge ran through the early and middle order.

Once opening pair Malcolm Lake (28) and Peter Bradley (14) were parted at 42, wickets began to tumble.

Six men went for 22 runs at one stage as Bovey’s 54 for one became 77 for seven.

Ashley Causey (15) and Sam Hickenbottom (15) delayed the inevitable , but the return of Stevenson and the introduction of Joe Thompson soon dealt with the stragglers.

Aussie opener Mitch Pugh led the way for Torquay with 51.

Pugh shared stands of 38 with Bertus Loots (19), another of 19 with Matt Thompson (10) and one of 40 with Sach Galhenage (16).

By the time Pugh was third out at 87 the game was almost over.

Galhenage was the only other casualty in the 28 overs Torquay needed to polish of the target.

Paignton’s away game at Plympton was called off due to a waterlogged pitch without a ball bowled.

Paignton needed to win to have any chance of avoiding relegation and are resigned to dropping back to the A Division next summer.

 

The victorious Torquay team after clinching the Premier title


DCB Ltd, University of Exeter Sports Hall, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QN Company Registration Number: 7024773

all content © Devon Cricket Board Ltd 2024    |    page edited by: webmaster@devoncricket.co.uk    updated: 01/09/2015   |