Devon Cricket Board - C Division - Woodman puts skids under Stoke

C DIVISION
FORMER Devon seam bowler Mark Woodman performed the hat-trick on his way to figures of four for 27 as Ottery St Mary came from behind to win by 11 run as Stoke Gabriel – then quickly spread the credit around.
Skipper Jody Clements made 30, Jack Pritcharad 39 and Ed Fane Trefusis 22 not out as Ottery cobbled together 171 for nine in the 43-over game.
There were three wickets each for Stoke bowlers Nick Sandbrook (3-17) and Seb Ansley (3-51).
Stoke appeared to have the game in the bag with 12 overs left as they had reached 142 for five with opener Steve Tolley (55no) going well and chip-ins from Matty Taylor (20) and Anthony Scott (32) helping the cause.
Then Woodman and Fane Trefusis struck. Having already claimed a run-out with a direct hit from the boundary to send back Stoke skipper Andy Lockyer, Woodman cleaned up behind his younger team-mate.
Trefusis made the breakthrough then Woodman took the last three wickets one after the other to give Ottery a win they didn’t expect.
The hat-trick casualties were Angus Lee (lbw), Sanddbrook (caught) and Alex Hill (caught).
Woodman, who returned to Ottery four summers ago after two decades with Exmouth, said 18-year-old former colt Fane Trefusis was the real star of the show.
“He changed the game when bought back for his second spell and deserved his four-wicket haul,” said Woodman.
“I was very impressed with Ed because he has a decent pace with some bounce.”
Looking back at the game and his own contribution, Woodman said: “We were shocked because Stoke were and they had a useful opening batsman in Steve Tolley who carried the bat for his unbeaten half century.
“Fortunately for us Tolley didn't face as many balls as he wanted towards the end.
“It was in my last over that I got an lbw first ball then the next two went to catches at cover. Until then we thought we were dead and buried.
“I was also shocked with my direct run out throw from the outfield to dismiss Andy Lockyer.”
Woodman, 45 last birthday, was a member of the Exmouth team which won eight Premier titles between 1990-1999. He also played for the England Deaf XI
During nine seasons playing for Devon he bowled at some of the top players, including Graham Gooch, Derek Randall, Jimmy Cook, Chris Tavare, Carl Hooper. Michael Vaughan and Richie Richardson, to name but a few.
These days his priorities are bringing on the younger players at Ottery and keeping the club in the C Division after promotion last year.
“I am enjoying playing at a lower league with a great bunch of youngsters,” said Woodman.
“But it is hard work playing at this level because there are some decent foreign players. We will be happy to finish in mid table if we can.”
Despite the result, and the previous unimpressive showing against Ivybridge, Stoke skipper Lockyer remains positive about promotion.
“We have had two disappointing run chases, especially against Ottery when we threw away a winning position because our middle order crumbled,” said Lockyer.
“Our batting must improve if we want to go up.”
CLYST Hydon go into their must-win game against fellow strugglers Clyst St George this Saturday frustrated by a drawn game with Ashburton.
Graham Trude helped himself to 70, and Clinton Lewis made 33, as Clyst cobbled up 191 for eight at Varwell Field.
Trude, who hit nine fours and two sixes, was the last man out for Clyst Hydon.
There were three wickets for Gordon Colwill (3-34) and two for Kris Connabeer.
Ashburton, the team Hydon have to overtake to get out of the bottom two, were clinging on grimly at 153 for eight when the overs ran out.
With Kev Sercombe taking four for 32 and Lewis three for 23, Ashes looked down and out at 85 for seven with Chris Pascoe (25) and Ashley Berry (35) back in the hutch.
Skipper Ashley Harvey (35) and Colwill (29no) shut up shop and when Harvey fell to the returning Sercombe next man Dean Topping (10no) kept Clyst out to the end.
Hydon stay bottom but are only five points behind Saturday rivals St George, who were soundly thrashed at Chagford by nine wickets.
CHAGFORD are defending pole position in the C Divison when they entertain Bideford this Saturday following a hefty nine-wicket win over Clyst St George.
While former leaders Ipplepen were being rained off against Bideford, Chagford were holding Clyst to 133 for nine in a 40-over game.
Chris Cook made 24 and that was as good as it got as youngster Billy Searle ran through the Clyst batting on his way to a five-for-36 haul.
The runs were knocked off inside 32 overs with man of the match Searle leading the way.
After Paul Penberthy went cheaply, Searle (61no) and Gary Sizmur (55no) chalked off the rest.
Chagford are 12 points clear of second-placed Ipplepen and 14 in front of Ivybridge (3rd) who were rained off after 23 overs at Kingsbridge.
Kingsbridge 114 for two when the weather closed in, James Fletcher and James Westlake both out for 41 and Ben Glover undefeated on 25.
Not playing moved Ipplepen down to second in the four-way fight for the two promotion places.
Although the weather has done Pens no favours – half their games have been hit by rain – skipper Keith Wakeham is confident of going up.
“We have hardest run in but we play the three main challengers so it is in our hands,” said Wakeham.
“There is a great spirit in the team, the lads are up for it and if we have the best of the four games we should go up.”