Devon Cricket Board - Problems mount for Shobrooke

A DIVISION

SHOBROOKE remain on the bottom of the A Division table after going down by four wickets to Cornwood.

Shobrooke are down in the basement with Barton and Alphington scrapping for survival, so Cornwood had high hopes of a first win in five starts.

Andy Bees appeared to set Cornwood on their way with a seven-for31 haul as Shobrooke were bowled out for 109.

Shobrooke were 48 for six after running into trouble against Bees and Mike Wood (2-42) and only made 109 thanks to Phil Anning (43) hanging around with the tail.

Shobrooke proved more durable than Cornwood were expecting though and reduced the visitors to 22 for four at tea. Adam Goodliffe’s 28 got Cornwood moving again and they went on to win by four wickets.

In low-scoring games every contribution is crucial and so it was for Cornwood as Matt Butterworth (17no) and Robin Dart (13no) saw it through after the Corns slowed to 80 for six.

Shobrooke are five points behind Barton, whom they play this Saturday,but 21 behind Alphington, who they have to get ahead of to stay up.

EXETER won the double-or-nothing game against Sandford by 62 runs to close in on the second promotion place behind champs elect Torquay.

Had second-placed Sandford beaten Exeter , they could have been 30 points clear and sitting pretty.

Alex Bosomworth hit 81 in Exeter’s total of 188 for nine, then there were three wickets each for Andy Mead, Adam Gribble and Callum Still as Sandford were bowled out for 126.

Now the gap is down to four points with Exeter champing at the bit to get ahead of Sandford.

Alec Bosomworth deserves special mention for a great innings which, in the context of the game, proved crucial.

“It was crucial we won as it has made the chase for second place very interesting,” said skipper Jon Tipper.

“Overall the performance was excellent and, but could have been even better had we held on to a couple of catches.

Bosomworth went in at 47 for two with run machines Rob Holman and Miles Lenygon the men out and batted through until the final over when he was run out.

There were four wickets for Darryn Mortimer and two for Simon Ashplant.

Sandford were looking good at 41 for none , but decidedly wobbly at 50 for four.

Matt Theedom (26) and Mortimer (29) got the score up to88 for five and at 102 for five Sandford were still in it.

Four wickets went for four runs as Sandford slumped to 126 all out.

TORQUAY can take a massive step closer to promotion on Saturday if they beat Abbotskerswell on the Recreation Ground.

The unbeaten A Division leaders won by three wickets at Brixham on Saturday to stretch their lead over second-placed Sandford to 61 points. The gap that matters though is the one over third-placed Exeter (65pts) as once they can’t catch them Torquay are up.

Aaron Williams (76), Matt Thompson (41) and Jan Bothma (39no) were Torquay’s leading run getters at Brixham as they knocked off Brixham’s 222 all out to win.

It was a struggle at times though as Anthony Marr (4-74) and Mark Orchard (3-55) made regular inroads.

Earlier, Marr (77), Mark Gilmour (53) and Orchard (47) had led the Brixham batting effort. A stand of 86 for the sixth wicket between Marr and Gilmour undid some of the damage done by Nick Watkin (5-84) and Bothma (4-86).

Relieved skipper Justin Yau said: “It wasn't the best performance we've produced but once again we came away with 20 points, which was absolutely crucial.

Brixham batted well and our strength in depth came through with Jan and Mawgan Penrice seeing us over the line late on.

“Aaron played a gem at the top of the order and Jan and Nick bowled their heart out. Full credit to Brixham for pushing us all the way.

“We have had two really tough games in the last two weeks and have come away with 35 points from 40.

“We highlighted Braunton and Brixham as two of our four threats in the run in and to go unscathed in both makes life a lot easier.

“We have our eyes on 55 more points and until we are mathematically promoted, we will not be counting our chickens!”

For Brixham, whose promotion prospects were seriously diminished by the result, it was a case of taking positives where they could.

“The guys gave 100 per cent and fought to the end,” said skipper Orchard.

“Torquay proved why they were top of the league at the end of it.

“Justin (Yau) said if we play like that for the rest of the season we won't lose, so there are positives to take from the game.”

While Torquay are planning on going up, it’s staying up which is on the mind of Barton captain Adam Parker after the 51-run defeat at Braunton.

Damon Calland took four for 34, and Parker three for 44, as Barton bowled Braunton pout for 173.

Stuart Rhodes made a valuable 49 for Braunton to haul them round from 75 for five.

Rhodes proved Barton’s undoing when they batted, taking six for 60 as the Cricketfield Roaders were bowled out for 122.

Tom Briggs got 42 early and Tom Porter spanked 27 late on, which included a top-edged six off Rhodes!

Barton are 17 points from safety and face a must-win game against bottom side Shobrooke Park this Saturday.

For skipper Parker it was a game that got away – something Barton can’t afford to happen again in a hurry/.

“We got ourselves in a good position again and came up against a very good and lively bowler in Rhodes.,” said Parker.

“There are six games left and we will be putting all our efforts into staying up.”

ALPHINGTON went 16 points clear of the drop zone when they beat Abbotskerswell by three wickets at Two Mile Oak.

Abbots were bowled out for 136 by Stuart Shaw (3-32) and Nathan Caton Robertson, whose three for 20 came off the full 15-over allocation.

Rob Shergold made 38 not out for Abbots with Richard Acton next best on 14.

Knocking off the runs wasn’t easy for the Alphs, who were distinctly rattled at 99 for six.

Chris Kelmere (4-29) and Aaron Hearn (2-20) did the damage, but the scalp that eluded them belonged to Paul James.

James batted through to make 61 not out and pulled the bottom third of the order along with him.