Devon Cricket Board - All change at top of table as North Devon lose again

LATEST TABLES
NORTH Devon, unbeaten a fortnight go, have now lost two on the spin and that has seriously opened up the race for the top honour.
From here on in its now a four-way battle for the title with Newton Tracey also in the frame sitting fourth just behind North Devon who in turn have slipped to third behind new leaders Hatherleigh and Filleigh who inflicted that second defeat upon the Instow men.
There are just 18 top flight matches to be played to complete the season and it’s all set for the closest finish in many years.
Filleigh batted first at Instow where they were bowled out for 185. Jaz Kalsi top scored with 49 whilst Charlie Popplewell (30) and teenager McCauley Harrison-Hooton (29) also made important contributions. Simon Wright took 4-28 in nine overs for North Devon who were then bowled out for 161 with only Fergus O’Donnell making any sort of impression with the bat with a knock of 37 whilst there were 33 extras. Popplewell completed a fine all-round shift with 4-17.
Hatherleigh and North Devon each have four to play whilst Filleigh and Newton Tracey have five to play with the latter facing North Devon, Filleigh and Hatherleigh.
In Division Two, two of the three games were played with Beaford 135-run winners at 10-man Lynton and Lynmouth who now look destined to slip into Division Three.
Paul Heard (60) and Peter McMillan (33) led their side to 220-9. Nick Bowen (3-45) and Tristan Jones (2-30) were the principle Lynton wicket takers. The hosts were then undone by Alex Crisp who claimed 5-21 in 9 overs as the hosts were bundled out for 85 with Pete Druce top scoring with 18.
James Starkey hit an unbeaten half century to guide Shebbear to a six wicket win at Victoria Park where the home sides Adam Oliver hit 35 in an all out total of 131.
There was no play possible at flood-hit Weare Giffard who had thought they could switch the game to opponents Halberton but were advised that that was not in league rules. That was something that surprised Halberton who have previously played the same opposition twice at the same venue when weather has been an issue.
In Division Three a Justin Dollow century kept Shobrooke in a promotion berth after a 64-run win at Bratton Fleming where they bowled the hosts out for 116 after a Dollow dominated innings of their own of 180-9. Sandford maintained their push for a top two finish with a five wicket win at Newton Tracey II. John Whormsley hit 79 for the home side that closed on 178-7, whilst Brian Leech, Ashley Baker and Gary Abdul each bagged a brace of wickets for the Mid Devon side that got home with five wickets intact thanks to Luke Wright’s unbeaten 74 and a solid knock of 39 from Baker. Ollie Cowell took 2-32 for the beaten hosts.
Division Four saw a complete programme after which Heathcoat II and Kelseymen, who both won, held the top two places. Heathcoat were 116-run home winners over North Devon III. Daniel Reed (68) and Chris Gregson (48) combined to lead the Knightshayes men to 249-6. Steve Lawrence took 2-25 for the visitors who were then bundled out for 133 with only Ben Ainger making much of an impact with 48 as Sean Andrews sent down nine overs and returned the splendid figures of 3-7.
Kelseymen were one run winners in a thrilling encounter at Filleigh II. Dominic Bracher hit 48 and Chris Brigden an unbeaten 34 as Kelseymen closed on 198-7. Filleigh lost their final wicket in the penultimate over just one run shy of the visitor’s total. Godfrey Tucker led the run chase with a superb 79 whilst Brigden completed a fine all-round effort for Kelseymen with 4-26.
James Tythcott hit an unbeaten century in a losing cause as Westleigh went down by 96 runs at Barnstaple and Pilton II. Jaz Iqbal (68no) and Danny Donovan (65) combined to lead Barum to 273-5. The wickets were shared around as Tythcott continued to make his way to his century and he was not out 100 when the final wicket was lost on 177.
Petrockstowe won for the third time this term to boost their hopes of avoiding the drop back into the basement division when they beat visiting North Molton by four wickets. Ian Cockwill (3-28) and Lewis Harris (3-24) shared wicket taking duties as the visitors were bowled out for 131. Gary Poop (26) and Harris (32) then led their side to a comfortable triumph.
In Division Five Barnstaple and Pilton III were 23-run winners at Nomansland. Rob Hulm (36) and Will Knill (24) led Barum to 158. Les Rendell took 3-20 and Chris Cook claimed 3-23 for Nomansland who were then bowled out for 135. Crook completed a fine all-round effort with an unbeaten 21. Andrew Barton took 3-13 but he was upstaged by Joe Johnson who finished with figures of 4-10.
Victoria Park II were unable to raise a side for their visit to table topping Bishop Nympton.
Division One
Filleigh 185 (J Kalsi 49, C Popplewell 30, M Harrison-Hooton 29; S Wright 4-28), North Devon 161 (F O’Donnell 37, extras 33; C Popplewell 4-17). Filleigh (20pts) bt North Devon (8) by 24 runs.
Division Two
Beaford 220-9 (P Herd 60, P McMillan 33; N Bowen 3-45, T Jones 2-30), Lynton nd Lynmouth 85 (P Druce 18; A Crisp 5-21). Beaford (20pts) bt Lynton and Lynmouth (0) by 135 runs.
Victoria Park 131 ( A Oliver 35), Shebbear 132-4 (J Starkey 64no). Shebbear (20pts) bt Victoria Park (4) by 6 wkts.
Were Gifford versus Halberton. Match not played owing to a flood damaged home venue.
Division Three
Shobrooke Park 180-9 (J Dollow 105), Bratton Fleming 116. Shobrooke Park (20pts) bt Bratton Fleming (4) by 64 runs.
Newton Tracey 178-7 (J Whormsley 79; B Leech 2-25, A Baker 2-28, G Abdul 2-29), Sandford II 179-5 (L Wright 74no, A Baker 39; O Cowling 2-32). Sandford (20pts) bt Newton Tracey (5) by 5 wkts.
Division Four
Heathcoat II 249-6 (D Reed 68, C Gregson 48; S Lawrence 2-25), North Devon III 133 (B Ainger 48; S Andrews 3-7). Heathcoat (20pts) bt North Devon (2) by 116 runs.
Kelseymen 198-7 (D Bracher 48, C Brigden 34no; J Ralph 2-30), Filleigh II 197 (G Tucker 79; C Brigden 4-26). Kelseymen (20pts) bt Filleigh (10) by 1 run.
Barnstaple and Pilton 273-5 (J Iqbal 68no, D Donovan 65), Westleigh 177 (J Tythcott 100no). Barnstaple and Pilton (20pts) bt Westleigh (4) by 96 runs.
Division Five
Barnstaple and Pilton III 158 (R Holm 36, W Knill 24; L Rendell 3-20, C Crook 3-23), Nomansland 135 (C Crook 21no; J Johnson 4-10, A Barton 3-13). Barnstaple and Pilton (20pts) bt Nomansland (8) by 33 runs.
Bishop Nympton versus Victoria Park II. Match not played as Victoria Park could not rise a side.