It was indeed gloomy and very overcast on arrival at Instow, the home of the 2011 Devon League Champions. As always North Devon were pulling out all the stops and, although a delayed start was forecasted, play would take place. With Matt Wood required in Nottinghamshire the following day, the coaching duties were to be shared and he was now joined by Joe Smith, who would also be travelling with the side up to Wales the following week. An excellent early lunch was taken before Devon won the toss and batted. George Yates had been expected to play a vital part during the 2011 season, particularly after his outstanding exploits in 2010. However he had not been feeling well the previous week and was again not feeling one hundred percent. An SOS was sent to Tom Ansell, who although he had retired from county cricket over the winter, lived locally. He very kindly responded to the appeal with a yes and at 1.38pm was opening with Joe Abbot. Abbott and Ansell had featured in a first wicket partnership of seventy-eight against Somerset in 2010 at Taunton Vale and Joe Abbott had helped Michael Cousens put on one hundred and eighteen at Instow against the same opponents a year previously. The Somerset side of 2011 had four changes to the side beaten by Devon and the home side had six indicating the changes in fortunes over the winter. One of Somerset’s new players was the speedy Davies, a student at Millfield, as they nearly all were, who was down from Cheshire, his previous county. It was his partner Williams who bowled Ansell with the score on eleven. Max Curtis and Abbott put on thirty-two in sixteen overs before Curtis was caught by Hartley off Easton. Our coach, who of course is a former Somerset player, very generously allowed the Somerset side, who did not have any of their own, the use of a set of Devon’s fielders’ pads, much to the annoyance of his side and management. The result was of course three catches at short leg, with Curtis the first dismissed in this way. One run later Joe Abbott fell in identical fashion. Golding and Mailling added forty in thirty-six minutes but, having looked in little difficulty, Josh Mailling was bowled for thirty. He was well set and should have batted on. Sam Wyatt-Haines and Golding took Devon to tea with the score on 107-4 off forty-six overs and the game was interestingly balanced. The tea time pair took the score up to one hundred and fifty-two before key batter Matt Golding was dismissed, bowled by Rose. This had been another example of Golding's temperament and ability. He had faced one hundred and fifty seven balls, hitting three fours in his thirty-nine. As with Mailling, it was unfortunate that he also did not bat on. Then ten minutes later Devon were again under pressure with the loss of the captain for two out of a three run partnership. He was Barrett’s first wicket caught Rouse. Over the next forty-six balls under 15 Wyatt-Haines and under 16 Rhys Davis took Devon up to one hundred and sixty-five but then Davies was the seventh batsman out, Barrett’s second wicket and Hartley’s third catch. The new ball was immediately taken but Wyatt-Haines and Passi Mawalage survived with little concern until close of play, with Devon seven short of the second batting point and three wickets in hand. Wyatt-Haines had displayed remarkable maturity in difficult circumstances being close to his fifty. Passi Mawalage confirmed his potential as a batter, being calmness personified. His inability to bowl all summer, due to a long standing injury, necessitated such a contribution as he was now known as our non-bowling all rounder!

More overnight rain taxed the excellent North Devon ground team and again an early lunch was the order of the day. Somewhat acrimonious discussions resulted in it being accepted that Devon would be entitled to bat a further five overs leaving Somerset potentially 63 overs to chase. The game restarted at 2.44pm and it was essential that Devon fully utilised their remaining thirty balls. They were all out off the penultimate ball of their innings having scored twenty-six runs and the second batting point being achieved in the second over of the day. The overnight pair scored another twenty-four runs to take their vital partnership up to fifty-two. Mawalage, who continued to look in fine fettle, was unnecessarily run out with Devon on 217 then the wheels fell off! Next over and one run later Heard, on his home ground, played across the line and was leg before and one further run later a second suicidal run out terminated Jack Richardson’s and Devon’s innings with Sam Wyatt-Haines high and dry, the tide was out, unbeaten on an exceptional sixty-one. It was a repeat of the Golding innings in character and skill but with a higher end product. He had faced one hundred and sixty-five balls in over three hours at the crease hitting six fours. Needing just under three and a half an over Devon would have to put their opponents under real pressure for the rest of the day. Tom Ansell took a catch at mid off to remove Smith off Richardson’s twelfth delivery to leave Somerset 11-1. No further wickets were taken up to tea with Somerset now well set for victory on 124-1 off thirty-four overs. Eaves had now turned to his spinners as Somerset had taken a liking to his seamers. Somerset lost their second wicket in the fifth over after the interval when Heard held a catch off Max Curtis to remove Hopper for eighty-two. His side still needed seventy-seven runs for first innings points with twenty-four overs remaining. It should have been and indeed it became a stroll in the park as the target was passed in the fifty-fourth over and the pair at the crease went on to put on an unbeaten one hundred and eighteen gaining an extra batting point. Somerset were 261-2 at ten past seven when the overs ran out. Jenkins was one hundred and twenty-six not out and Rouse thirty-two. A splendid batting performance in what were ever improving conditions. This was Devon’s lowest ever return in two day cricket and the exasperation and huge disappointment was expressed in a torrid post match discussion. This broke one of the most important management rules do not let rip after a loss and was subsequently regretted.