Devon Cricket Board - Honours even in Townsend Memorial Match

Honours even in Townsend Memorial Match

The Heathcoat Select XI skippered by Gareth Townsend. Back (left to right): Callum Murphy, Julian Wyatt, Paul Elliott, Nick Folland, Mark Govier, Andy Giles, Keith Elliott, Andrew Forward (umpire). Front: Harrison Folland, Ben Townsend, Gareth Townsend, Jack Townsend, Dan Elliott

THERE was a thrilling finish to the Graeme Townsend Memorial Game at Heathcoat, which ended in a tie.
Heathcoat put out a Select XI of old faces and friends to play at Tiverton & District XI every year in memory of Graeme Townsend.
Graeme, who was born severely disabled, was a tireless worker on behalf of Heathcoat as secretary, scorer, league representative and odd-job man, until his death in 1999 aged 35.
The Graeme Townsend Cup has been played for since 1999 and has only been shared once before.
Perhaps it was fitting that the wicket to earn the tie was taken by Graeme’s brother Gareth, whose spin bowling was often under rated during his career with Somerset, and Devon.
Andy Giles top scored for the Select XI with 40 in a total of 131 all out.
Mark Govier made 28 – he and Giles put on 48 for the sixth wicket - and Harrison Folland made 27.
The wickets were shared around but the best set of figures belonged to Chris Gregson (3-17).
The Tiverton XI slumped to 36 for three when Jason Williams got out – and he had 31 of them!
Jamie Drew (12) and James Gregson (21) started the fightback, then John Hall with 31 took it on.
When Townsend snared Hall, Tiverton were nine wickets down for 126 and needed six to win.
Last pair Jim Cridland and Phil Head got the scores level, then Townsend struck to remove Cridland caught and bowled.
“We engineered a tie two or three years ago, but there was nothing engineered about this one, other than a lucky caught and bowled,’ said Gareth.
Terry Townsend, Graeme’s father, said: “We had excellent support from ex-players and supporters and the superb facilities at Heathcoat for the match.
“We had five under 14s playing – all sons of players who knew Graeme – and all acquitted themselves well.”

The Tiverton and District XI

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