NORTH DEVON LEAGUE - WEEK 12
DIVISION ONE
Tables

THERE are new leaders of the top flight after Filleigh took over following previous leaders Heathcoat’s day of inactivity and their four wicket win at Lynton & Lynmouth.

Graham Fitt top scored with 72 as the home side posted a healthy total of 258-8. Jamie Palmer took 3-31 and then hit 54 in the run chase. Mark Collier led the successful chase with 83 as Filleigh got home with four wickets and six overs to spare. Filleigh are now the only side in the top flight to have lost just the once.

Sandford went down for only the second time when beaten by 33 runs at Bideford. Then home side batted first and with Andy Webbe hitting 82, Chris Luxton chipping in with 54 and useful contributions from Matt Allin (32) and skipper Ian Hayter (27), were able to close on 258-6. Simon Ashplant took 3-14 and Steve Morrish bagged a brace for the visitors.

The run chase was always on whilst the impressive Tianne Mostert was out in the middle, but once he departed for 69 the Creedy Park men’s hopes faded. Young Ashplant his an unbeaten 46 to add to his earlier runs and there was a knock of 38 from Chris Jelly but it was Bideford celebrating at the end thanks to a couple of wickets each to the earlier batting heroes Webbe and Luxton.

North Devon may have lost three so far and feel that there title hopes are over but they may yet be involved in the race for the top honour after a thrilling final over win at Victoria Park.

The home side batted first and closed on 191-8 led by Colin Bettis (29) and Steve Oliver (27). Matt Dart helped himself to a fivefer to finish with 5-56 and Ricky Kelley, who was to later play a match winning role with the willow, took 2-49.

Stuart Rhodes, a half centurion the day before in the Devon League, chalked up yet another three figure score with 102 but he was dismissed off the 3^rd ball of the final over. This brought Kelly to the wicket and he promptly hit successive 4’s, one of them an edge through the slips, and North Devon claimed a victory with one wicket, and just one ball, remaining. Mike Cashmore, who was the bowler of that final over, took 5-58 and Mike Harris claimed 3-32.

Bradninch won the battle of the basement dwellers when they beat hosts Newton Tracey by a couple of wickets. Rob Gear (47) and Bill Sobey (30), were the principle run getters for the hosts in a total of 173. Richard Foan took 5-48 for the visitors whilst the Mid Devon side’s skipper, Eliot Acton took 3-20. Durham University student Dan Hardy hit 54 and skipper Acton chipped in with 31 as Bradninch got home with two wickets, and as many overs, to spare. Simon Gear, Rob Gear and Kieron Jarrett, each took a couple of wickets for Newton Tracey who remain just above Bradninch but the point’s difference between the sides is now .29.

DIVISION TWO

Leaders Braunton claimed an eighth victory in nine outings with an 87 run home win over Beaford.

Batting first the home side got a superb start with Ian Roberts and Tom Potham putting on 180 for the first wicket. Potham went for 74, Roberts went on to hit an imperious 130 and with Matt Harival dishing up a cameo knock of 44, Braunton were able to close on an imposing 297-6. This proved too many for the visitors despite a fine 94 from Mark Lake as the reply closed on 210-9. Harival took 4-40 and Mark Mitchell helped himself to a brace of wickets.

Morebath are up to second after they won by 59 runs at Shobrooke Park. Batting first Patrick Hyde hit an unbeaten 54 to lead Morebath to 185-9. Mind you at 111-7 the visitors were in a spot of bother. Phil Venn steadied things with 24 and then Hyde, batting at number nine, took the total to something for the bowlers to attack. John Findlay then took 2-28 and Phil Venn did similar as the home innings closed on 126-9.

Bratton Fleming defeated Holsworthy thanks to runs from Colin Welch (60), Andy Paine (5) and Steve Brazier (27) in a total of 192-7. Dan Jenkins and Keith Drew both bagged braces of wickets for Holsworthy who made a decent first of the run chase before falling just short on 179. Steve Drew hit 39 and other runs came from Jenkins (31) and John Tidball (29) whilst 15 year old Charlie Cobbledick so nearly proved to be the match winner for the visiting side. The youngster spanked a huge six and clubbed a couple of 4’s before he holed out.

Hatherleigh won a low scoring affair against visiting Barnstaple & Pilton who were bundled out for 124 in just 24 overs, this, after the home side had themselves been dismissed for 145 in 36 overs.

DIVISION THREE

Martin Bray continues to take runs off all attacks in the Third Division. He now is within 80 of breaking the record aggregate score for Divison Three runs, currently held by former Heathcoat player Ruan Nel (846 in 2004), for he is now past 800 after scoring 69 in a Shebbear total of 272 all out at Ilfracombe.

Ollie Wicket also hit a half century and then took 3-26 as he and Clara Nielson (3-22), combined to bowl out the hosts for 140.

Bray is also likely to break the individual record for runs in a season in any Division that is currently held by Gordon Wint who scored 902 in the 2004 Division Five campaign. Shebbear’s win keeps them in 2^nd, behind 100% Incorrigibles.

Westleigh were the biggest movers in the section after they beat Bratton Fleming II by seven wickets. James Ford claimed a couple of wickets as the visiting side were restricted to 193-5 and then Lee Merrick hit a superb unbeaten 85 and Archie Christie struck 58 as Westleigh wrapped the game up from just 29 overs.

Martin Ash (86) and Yazier Iqbal (51no), combined to help Barnstaple & Pilton II to 206 all out at home to North Devon II. Ali White took 3-46 for the Instow men who were then bowled out for 140 despite a fine 48 from Tom Stanton. Martin Brice (3-11) and Robin Lake (3-3), did the damage with the ball as Barum won by 66 runs.

DIVISION FOUR

Newton Tracey II beat Victoria Park II by six wickets. Tim Lane (58) and Dave Gordon (45) spearheaded the Victoria Park II total of 186-9 as Kieron Jarrett claimed 4-19 for the visitors.

Newton Tracey then marched to a comfortable victory led by Andy Chatham (49no) and Bill Sobey (40no). Robin Potter and Mark Stephens, both took a wicket for the beaten hosts.

Halberton strengthened their place amongst the promotion hopefuls with a thrilling win over visiting Cheriton Fitzpaine and once again the villagers star was skipper Dan Coles who hit another century. Coles was finally out for 124 and with contributions from Andy Blake (34), Adrian Hills (34) and Dale Barker (30), Halberton were able to close on 284-6. Ben Coe was the most successful of the Cheriton bowlers with 2-66 and then he led the run chase with a magnificent unbeaten 119. Dave Carr chipped in with 68 but the Cherries ran out of overs and closed on 263-8. Will Austin and Richard Durrant both took two wickets.

North Devon III went down by seven wickets to Lynton & Lynmouth II who bowled the Instow side out for just 79 and then knocked the runs off for the loss of three wickets.

There was a thrilling game between table toppers Weare Giffard and 2^nd placed Bideford II with the end result that Bideford won by a single run to inflict only a second defeat of the campaign upon Weare Giffard. The hero of the piece for Bideford I was skipper Darren Hart who effected a run out off the final delivery of the game to seal the narrowest of wins.

Bideford had batted first and posted a reasonably healthy total of 221. Alan Withecombe (58), Peter Stephens (47) and skipper Hart (28), were the main run providers.

Hart then had 3-38 before he completed his spell with the ball but a miss calculation with his bowling options left him having to ask wicket keeper Withecombe to send down the final over. Hart himself donned the keepers pads and gloves and with the hosts needing one to tie and two to win off the final delivery, managed to gather the ball and throw down the stumps to seal a dramatic win for his side!

DIVISION FIVE

BISHOPS Nympton were unable to raise a side to stage their game with Petrockstowe and so conceded the match and there was no action at Bide II versus Heathcoat II with the home pitch required for a Bude Saturday XI game.

There was play at Nomansland where they went down to North Molton in a high run scoring affair. Henry Hayden (83) and skipper Andy Crossman (35) were the main run providers for Nomansland in a total of 252-5. Joe Noble took 3-51 for the visitors who then took on, and succeeded, with the run chase thanks to an unbeaten 62 from Guy Loosemore and a fine knock of 89 from Matt Geen.

Nomansland then played a second game over match week 12 when they travelled to Filleigh III and once again it was a high scoring affair with Filleigh the victors by just 13 runs. Ben Mogford hit a magnificent unbeaten 124 and Charlie Popplewell chipped in with 52 in a home total of 236-2, answered by the Witheridge side with 223 thanks to a knock of 91 from Josh Clare and 46 from Gary Say. Jack Wakeley took 5-22 for Filleigh III.

Division One:

Bideford 258-6 (A Webbe 82, C Luxton 54, M Allin 32, I Hayter 27; S Ashplant 3-14, S Morrish 2-15), Sandford 225-7 (T Mostert 69, S Ashplant 46no, C Jelly 38; C Luxton 2-33, A Webbe 2-42). Bideford (20pts) bt Sandford (8) by 33 runs.

Lynton & Lynmouth 258-8 (G Fott 72; J Palmer 3-31), Filleigh 259-6 (M Prideaux 83, J Palmer 54). Filleigh (20pts) bt Lynton & Lynmouth (6) by 4 wkts.

Newton Tracey 173 (R Gear 47, B Sobey 30; R Foan 5-48, E Acton 3-20), Bradninch 174-8 (D Hardy 54, E Acton 31; S Gear 2-25, R Gear 2-29, K Jerrett 2-29). Bradninch (20pts) bt Newton Tracey (8) by 2 wkts.

Victoria Park 191-8 (C Bettis 29, S Oliver 27; M Dart 5-56, R Kelly 2-49), North Devon 195-9 (S Rhodes 102, R Kelly 18no; M Cashmore 5-58, M Harris 3-32). North Devon (20pts) bt Victoria Park (10) by 1 wkt.

Division Two:

Bratton Fleming 192-7 (C Welch 60, A Paine 5, S Brazier 27; D Jenkin 2-26, K Drew 2-31), Holsworthy 179 (S Drew 39, D Jenkins 31, R Tidball 29; P Simmonds 2-24, C Langdon 2-411, A Brooks 2-36). Bratton Fleming (20pts) bt Holsworthy (10) by 3 runs.

Braunton 297-6 ( I Roberts 130, T Potham 74, M Harival 44; A McMillan 5-57), Beaford 210-9 (M Lake 94, N Lake 31; M Harival 4-40, M Mitchell 2-30). Braunton (20pts) bt Beaford (6) by 87 runs.

Hatherleigh 145, Barnstaple & Pilton 124 – no other details received. Hatherleigh (20pts) bt Barnstaple & Pilton (8) by 21 runs.

Morebath 185-9 (P Hyde 54no, P Venn 24), Shobrooke Park 126-9 (J Findlay 2-28, P Venn 2-30). Morebath (20pts) bt Shobrooke Park (4) by 59 runs.

Division Three:

Barnstaple & Pilton II 206 (M Ash 86, Y Iqbal 51no; AWhite 3-46), North Devon II 140 (T Stanton 48; M Brice 3-11, R Lake 3-31). Barnstaple & Pilton II (20pts) bt North Devon II (6) by 66 runs.

Shebbear 272 (M Bray 69, O Wicket 50), Ilfracombe 140 (O Wicket 3-26, Claire Nealson 3-22). Shebbear (20pts) bt Ilfracombe (2) by 132 runs.

Bratton Fleming II 193-5 (J Ford 2-32), Westleigh 197-3 (L Merrick 85no, A Christie 58). Westleigh (20pts) bt Bratton Fleming II (3) by 7 wkts.

Division Four:

Victoria Park II 186-9 (T Lane 58, D Gordon 45; K Jarrett 4-19), Newton Tracey II 189-4 (A Chatham 49no, B Sobey 40no; M Stephens 1-31). Newton Tracey II (20pts) bt Victoria Park II (4) by 6 wkts. (This match played on Saturday)

Halberton 284-6 (D Coles 124, A Blake 34, A Hills 34, D Barker 30; B Coe 2-66), Cheriton Fitzpaine 263-8 (B Coe 119no, D Carr 68; W Austin 2-36, R Durant 2-56). Halberton (20pts) bt Cheriton Fitzpaine (10) by 21 runs.

North Devon III 79, Lynton & Lynmouth II 81-3 – no other details received. Lynton & Lynmouth II (20pts) bt North Devon III (3) by 7 wkts.

Bideford 221-8 (A Withecombe 58, P Stephens 47, D Hart 28), Weare Giffard 220-9 (D Hart 3-38). Bideford II (20pts) bt Weare Giffard (10) by 1 run.

Division Five:

Bishops Nympton versus Petrockstowe – match not played, Bishops Nympton unable to raise a side. Petrockstowe (20pts) bt Bishops Nympton (0) w/o.

Nomansland 252-5 (H Hayden 83, A Crossman 35, J Clare 27no; J Noble 3-51), North Molton 254-5 (M Geen 89, G Loosemore 62no, J Tapp 32; L Rendell 3-27). North Molton (20pts) bt Nomansland (5) by 5 wkts. (this match played on Saturday)

Bude II versus Heathcoat II – match not played, no pitch available. Match to be re-arranged.

Filleigh III 236-2 (B Mogford 124no, C Popplewell 52, J Bordon 39), Nomansland 223 (J Clare 91, G Say 46; J Wakeley 5-22). Filleigh III (20pts) bt Nomansland (10) by 13 runs.

North Devon League Week by Week

Week Eighteen | Week Nineteen | Week Twenty | Week Twenty-One | Week Twenty-Two

Week Twenty-Three | Week Twenty-Four

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