Devon Cricket Board - Vorster makes instant impact at South Devon

B DIVISION

SOUTH Devon won a low-scoring affair against Chagford by 33 runs on their debut as a B Division side.

Chagford appeared to be in the driving seat after holding South Devon to 139 for nine in the full 46-over allocation.

Henry Burningham (27) and Dave Baldock (25) got early runs, Dan Green (4-51) took wickets in the middle and at 114 for South Devon were struggling.

A last-wicket stand of 25 between Matt Coult (16no) and Pat Duke got the score up to 139 for nine, which proved more than it looked.

At 76 for two in reply it looked like Chagford’s match, until they collapsed in spectacular style against Peter Vorster and Pat Duke.

With Andy Peterson (31) and Henry Gordon-Lennox (24) out of the way, Kiwi Vorster (6-35) and Duke (3-19) shot Chagford out for 106.

Some tidy fielding – a brilliant catch by an airborne Tom Morgan to dismiss Peterson will live long in the memories of those who saw it – helped the South Devon cause.

“Considering we had a couple of players out, it was a great start for us,” said South Devon skipper Dave Knowles.

“Chagford were up among the promotion sides all last season and it is teams like that we have to beat to be contenders ourselves.”

DARTINGTON’S return to the B Division after a decade was a low-key affair as they slumped to a six-wicket defeat by Barnstaple & Pilton.

D&T were all out for a modest 108 in 30 overs – Matt Thurlow making a top score of 28.

Former Torquay all-rounder Ed Yeo took four for 45 for B&P and there were three wickets for Jack Popham.

Barnstaple were sent on their way by a stand of 59 for the second wicket between former Braunton team-mates Yeo and Brady Saunders.

Yeo was in and out for 33 – Ryan Stevenson (3-22) sending him back – with Saunders batting through for 47 not out in the 19 overs needed to knock off the runs.

CHUDLEIGH skipper Jon Martin was left to reflect on the toss of a coin after his side went down by two wickets to visiting Thorverton.

Opposite number Ali Fury called correctly, Chudleigh had to bat first at soggy Kate Brook and were all out for 91.

Conditions were little better when Thorverton batted as they slid from 49 for two to 79 for six on the chase. The runs were knocked off in bits and pieces from there on with no chances taken.

Said Martin: “It was one of those games where you lost the game if you lost the toss.

“There was a bit of life in the wicket and although we gave away a few wickets with bad batting we were not dreadful.

“Thorverton found it almost as hard, but they had the benefit of a target and all the time in the world to get there.”

Blake Charlton was the destroyer in chief for Thorverton with six for 35. Phil Jones, who jumped ship from Clyst SG in the winter, had three for 19.

Thors gave Chudleigh 45 in extras, leaving Sean Newland (14) the dubious distinction of scoring most runs off the bat.

Martin (4-33) and Tertius Gouws (3-36) made Thorverton work for their runs, which were chipped away at by Paul Fielder (16), Charlton (13) and Will Denford (12).

Nat Davey and Harry Choules saw Thorverton over the line.

AXMINSTER’S opening game of the new season ended in a 24-run defeat at Plymstock.

The hosts batted first and were bowled out for 180 with the Larcombe brothers sharing seven of the wickets. Gary claimed 4-48 and Danny took 3-52.

Wickets tumbled on a regular basis, but there were a couple of stand-out knocks, notably from Josh Hocken (55) and Rhys Countessa (27).

Danny Larcombe completed a fine all-round contribution with 47 and Tristan Wakeley served up a splendid 34 but the reply floundered, the final wicket falling on 156.

Jack Thomas took six for 45 to put the skids under Axminster.

Axminster skipper Paul Miller said: “I am not too downbeat over this as we were without four regular players and I do feel that any one of the missing four might well have proved to be the difference.

“Everybody gave their all and the innings of Tristan (Wakeley) was very good indeed and augers well for the season ahead.

“Hopefully we’ll have the injured four back for the opening home game against Dartington on Saturday.”

NEW Clyst St George captain Matt Cook didn’t rely on excuses after the opening day defeat by Tavistock.

Clyst were all out for 98 with Cook the top scorer on 41. Without a stand of 58 for the fifth wicket between the captain and Dom Hazell (24) which got the score up to 92 for five, there was not much from the rest.

For Tavistock, Shaun Dayment took four wickets for 19 runs and Chris Hutchings bagged three for 13.

Clyst’s new Aussie signing Steve Bourke (3-36) and Pete Weatherhead (1-25) made Tavvy work for their runs.

Tavvy were indebted to opener Ian Gray, who batted through for an unbeaten 47, for seeing them through.

“It was a bad toss to lose, but we didn’t bat very well and you can’t blame that on the toss,” said Cook.