Devon Cricket Board - C Division - South Devon enjoying cricket again

C Division - South Devon enjoying cricket again

SOUTH Devon will be looking to make it three out of three at the top of the C Division when Plymouth CS&R visit Marsh Lane on Saturday.
The Newton Abbot outfit followed up their 205-run win over Ottery St Mary first time out with a 59-run verdict over Alphington.
Alphington had the best of it at first, reducing South Devon to 34 for three when dangerman Neil Hancock was caught behind off Andy Wilson (4-36).
A stand of 86 between Sean Day (42) and Mike Smith (41) hauled South Devon towards a total of 165 for eight – then they had to defend it.
Alphington were without opening day centurion Paul James, whom skipper Stuart Shaw will hope is back for the trip to Dartington this Saturday.
With Tom Bath also out, and Dinesh Raheja too, Shaw was a few options short.
South Devon had the seam bowling attack to turn the screw and with Dave Knowles bagging three wickets plus two each for Hancock and Day, Alphington subsided to 106 all out.
South Devon are already 12 points clear at the top of the table, helped by a near washout in the C Division last weekend.
Having gone two years without a win on the way from the A to the C Division, things are looking up for South Devon following the arrival of Hancock, Day and Johnny Martin.
“The new guys have slotted in like a dream and us lads who've been at the club for a while are loving our cricket again,” said skipper Ali Wright.
“Sean Day and Mike Smith got us out of jail after we looked in trouble on a difficult track.
“Our total looked a little above par if anything, so we knew if we bowled as we did against Ottery we would have a good chance.
“We missed some tough catches and we'll be working on that in the week, but the discipline on the whole was excellent again.”
Opposite number Shaw said it was a defeat he could live with due to the quality of the opposition.
“Even with our three missing lads playing, I don’t think it would have made a difference to the result, just the margin,” said Shaw.
“South Devon have got an A Division bowling attack that is hard to get away.
“I am not too disappointed. We played well against a side that will win promotion this season – or their chairman will have some difficult questions to answer!”
OTTERY St Mary captain Lewis Townsend hopes the improvements shown in the 187-run win over Kingsbridge will be maintained against second-placed Ipplepen this Saturday.
That 205-run defeat by South Devon was quickly put to one side as Ottery racked up 240 for eight in a 40-over game.
Ottery were 91 for four when Billy Read and Dan Flower teamed up to put together a stand of 59 for the fifth wicket.
Flower went for 72, but Read carried with James Faulkner to add another 52 and reach 74 not out.
Kingsbridge were all out for 53 in reply with Devon U15 prospect Billy Rudolph taking three for 11.
Jody Clements had three for 15 and there were two wickets each for Faulkner and Will Harrison as Kingsbridge lost their last five wickets for 20 runs.
Said Harrison: “We batted far better than we did at South Devon and the guys bowled well, giving Kingsbridge very little to hit.
“It was great to see Billy Rudolph take his first wickets in the 1^st XI – and fitting too.
“John Lovell, who ran the youth cricket at Ottery for many years, died last week and all the players wore black armbands as a mark of respect.
“He would have been pleased to see another Ottery youngster making his way in the first team.”

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