Champions achieve last two goals in final game

TORQUAY skipper Justin Yau achieved his last two aims for the season when his side defeated relegated Plympton by 72 runs.

Yau was aiming to finish the title-winning season with a tenth successive win. Mission accomplished. 

Goal number two was to set a new record points tally for the division – and Torquay did that too! Click here to read Yau's final thoughts on winning the title and beating Plympton

Torquay’s 319 points from 18 games broke the previous record of 310 set by Sidmouth when they claimed the title in 2010.

Torquay made 218 for seven in their 50 overs – Joe Thompson coming out of the shadows to smash 78 off 67 balls.

Thompson, who hit six sixes and five fours, has been one of the unsung heroes of Torquay’s first title win since 1997 with wickets here and down-the-order runs there.

Mitch Pugh (37) and Sach Galhenage (30) put on 66 for the first wicket, but Yau, Max Waller and Bertus Loots all went cheaply.

Torquay were 105 for five when Thompson strode to the wicket – and 215 for six when he got out in the last over.

Thompson’s stand with Ryan Stevenson was worth 112 in 18 overs and lifted Torquay well past anything Plympton were likely to muster.

Stevenson, in what could be his last appearance for a while in a Torquay shirt after signing a two-year deal with Hampshire, made 34.

Plympton’s bowlers were arguably on top until Thompson got hold of them. Ryan Skinner, Jamie Lee, Craig Donohue and Tom Johnson all going for less than four an over.

Ross Farrer, who is expected to join Truro next season after taking a teaching job in west Cornwall, took three for 43 from 10 overs.

Skipper Jamie Carr, whose bowling has been pretty consistent all season, was worked around a bit by Thompson, which was reflected in his figures of none for 66 off eight.

Plympton were all-out for 134 in reply after their target was reduced to 207 to win due to a rain break.

Carr (32) and David Ackford (22) put up 57 or the first wicket and Johnson made 23.

Once Somerset’s Max Waller got into the top order – he took four for 16 from nine overs – Plympton went into a steady decline to 114 for five.

Matt Petherbridge, who was 16 the day before the game, completed his debut season in the Premier Division with a five-for-27 haul that took him past 30 league wickets for the season.

Plympton’s last five wickets tumbled for just 14 runs as they stuttered to 134 all out.

Plympton go down without a win all season, which skipper James Carr felt they didn’t deserve.

“It was shame we couldn't win a match as I felt we've been good enough to do so or been in positions to do so but just let ourselves down,” said Carr.

“The lads still fought hard and didn’t fold over and make it easy for Torquay.

“The club will regroup in the winter and look to bounce next season.”

 


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