Devon Cricket Board - D Division: Pens take title over Ottery

D Division: Pens take title over Ottery

D DIVISION

OTTERY St Mary duly banked the points they needed to accompany Ipplepen up into the C Division next season as they rounded their fine season off in style with a four wicket win at a Whitchurch side who were relegated as a result of their sixth defeat of the season.

Whitchurch are actually going down having lost fewer than the four teams to finish immediately above them in the table, but three victories all season, underlines why they are going down with Bridestowe.

Batting first, Whitchurch were bowled out for 142 with only George Webb making an impression with 25. Mark Woodman sent down 13 overs and claimed very respectable figures of 1-17.

Jody Clements then hit 39 to lead the Otters to a six wicket win. Mark Kerswell was the pick of the home bowling with 3-32.

FENITON went into their final day Acland Park meeting with Plymouth Civil Service and Roborough knowing they simply had to win, bank maximum points, and, then hope for a miracle score line at Whitchurch to send them up instead of East Devon neighbours Ottery St Mary.

Mark Kingdon’s men did their bit with an a 110-run win over the visitors, but it turned out to be all in vain with Feniton set to spend at least one more year in the D Division.

An upbeat Kingdon said: “Hand on heart I am relieved that we are not going up.

“We are continuing to be in a state of transition at the club with young players bedding in and it will do us no harm to start again in this section and see what next season unravels for us.

“It is also highly unlikely that Norman (Bedford) will be with us next season and that would make us significantly weaker had we been playing at the next level up.”

If Bedford was playing his last league game for the club then he certainly signed off in style.

First he struck an unbeaten 80 as he and Kingdon (58), together with Graham Tucker (21) led the Acland Park side to 220-4 declared.

Bedford then claimed 5-12 in eleven splendid overs and Kingdon also picked up a brace of wickets at a cost of 18 runs as the Plymouth side were bowled out for 110 with only Dave Windsor providing any resistance with a knock of 25.

Countess Wear had reached 228-5 at Yelverton when the weather closed in to render any further play possible.

James Bogue top scored with 87 whilst Ian Cunningham was the most successful home bowler with 2-31.

WHIMPLE and Halberton went head to head knowing that if there was a shock result at Whitchurch where promotion chasing Ottery St Mary were the visitors, then one of them would be going down with Bridestowe.

As Ottery won the game at Whitchurch and that meant, no matter what happened at Whimple, the hosts and Halberton would live to fight another day in the Division. Batting first, Halberton were bowled out for 165 with only Tom Sambrook (51) and John Chilcott (34) making much of an impression as Phil Hope (4-41) and skipper Jono Burden (3-35) claimed wickets.

Post tea the star of the show was Paul Robins who sent down 14 overs and claimed six wickets for just 21 runs as Whimple limped to 134-9. Will Bardot top scored with 22 and it was a defiant unbeaten 21 from skipper Burden that ensured his side did not end the term on a losing note.

IPPLEPEN’S final game of the season was marred by the weather at relegated Bridestowe where the home side had made their way to a promising 212-6 when the rain washed away any further play.

Scott Tremain, batting at number five, was unbeaten on 49 at the premature close of play whilst Keith Wakeham was the most successful for the champions’ bowlers, taking 3-34.

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