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NORTH DEVON LEAGUE – WEEK 20
Results & Tables

FILLEIGH suffered a second successive defeat when beaten by five wickets at home to North Devon and, whilst that does not end their title hopes, they do now need favourable results from elsewhere to be crowned champions.

However for North Devon, the win reignites their own title chances and, if Heathcoat were to lose at home to Bradninch next Sunday (August 30), then the Instow side would be in pole position to win the title if they could then claim victories in their last two at Sandford (Sep 6) and Bradninch (Sep 12).

Batting first Filleigh were bowled out for 130 with only John Hickman making any real headway with 54 as Craig Overton (3-23) and the hugely impressive Matt Dart (2-7 from nine overs), did the business for North Devon who won with five wickets to spare thanks to Craig Overton 45no) and Stuart Rhodes (21).

Newton Tracey slipped ever nearer the drop into the 2^nd Division when they went down in a last ball thriller at Victoria Park. Simon Gear (52), Ian Gear (52no), Rob Gear (42) and John Walmsley (40), all made contributions to a healthy total of 274.

Neil Bettis underpinned what was to prove a successful run chase with 110 as he and Mark Bettis (55) put on 127 for the 2^nd wicket. Steve Skinner then came in and hit 57 as he and Neil Bettis added 123 for the 3^rd wicket. Then came a slump with five wickets being lost for just a dozen runs. This brought Tim Lane and Adam Oliver to the wicket and, with their team requiring three to win from the final two deliveries, Lane clipped a pair off the penultimate ball and the pair scrambled a leg bye on the final ball to seal a thrilling victory.

With just one to play (at home to Filleigh on Sep 6), Newton Tracey simply have to win and even that may not be enough to save them from the drop.
It’s very tight at the foot of the table with four teams now involved in the battle to avoid slipping out of the top flight.

Bradninch did their chances a power of good with a 133 run victory at home to a Lynton & Lynmouth side who have now been dragged into the battle to beat the drop. Batting first the Mid Devon side scored an imposing 238 led by teenager Matt Jarrett who hit four 4s and as many 6s in a run a minute knock of 54. Ross Acton (52) and Dan Hardy (48) also provided runs as 18-year-old James Melmoss, playing his first game for Lynton & Lynmouth, showed good technique and a decent pace as he took 3-31 from nine overs. Dave Proctor and Nick Bowen each bagged a brace of wickets. The visitors though were then bundled out for just 105 with Ed Yeo (32), providing the top score as wickets fell to Billy Wakeley (3-28), Phil Chappell (2-15), Dan Hardy (2-18) and Pete Hardy, who claimed the last two wickets with his only two balls and so will be on a hat-trick next time a Bradninch XI skipper throws him the ball!

Bottom of the table Bradninch still have to play all three of the title contenders and, despite them being unable to play a couple of fixtures this term, clearly, with a Saturday side playing in the top flight of the Francis Clark Devon League, they can field a side as strong as any in the NDL. They face current leaders Heathcoat first and, a win at home for the Knightshayes side will take them to within one game of the title, however, a Bradninch win and the destiny of the 2009 NDL top honour could well go right down to the wire.

Division Two

THERE was no play in either of the two scheduled Division Two games.
Leaders Braunton were given an easy afternoon when bottom of the table Shobrooke Park cried off unable to raise a side whilst rain was the problem at Holsworthy and the inactivity there means scheduled visitors Filleigh II will slip into the Third Divison next season alongside Shobrooke Park, both sides are so far adrift that their fate is sealed even though the Mid-Devon outfit have two to play and Filleigh have one more match to complete their campaign.

Division Three

INCORRIGIBLES remain one of just two sides throughout the League to continue to sport a 100 per cent record after they won by 60 runs at North Devon II.

The victory, whilst not mathematically yet crowning them as champions, means only a Devon Lock style collapse over their remaining two outings and some bizarre results elsewhere, will prevent them lining up in the second tier next summer.

Rich Ashworth (50) and Henry Hayden (35) were the principle run getters in a visitor’s total of 176-9. John Wainwright (4-26) and Raymond Clarke (3-30), were the principle wicket takers for the Instow men who were then bowled out for 120. Tom Stanton top scored with 32 and Wainwright completed a fine all round effort with 26. However, the leaders claimed a comfortable victory thanks to Alex Elston (3-19).

Sandford II have climbed into a promotion berth in Division Three where it is currently a Mid Devon one-two with Witheridge based Incorrigibles the likely winners of the section.

Sandford showed visiting ten man Ilfracombe no mercy as they whipped them out for 126 in 33 overs with only Mike Kavanagh (33), Dan Brierley (24) and Jason Newman (20), amongst the runs. Sean Cunningham took 3-13 and 14-year-old Gary Abdoll, the latest in a long line of Creedy Park youngsters to make a mark in senior cricket, claimed 3-23 with his most promising off-spin.

Pete Steer then indicated his hurry to get back in the pavilion to see the Ashes being won as he plundered a 28-ball half century, his 54 including seven 4s and three 6s. Ryan Glass hit an unbeaten 32 and there was a cameo 21 from Chris Theedom. Newman bagged a brace for Ilfracombe who are now in mortal danger of slipping down into Division Four, quite a fall from grace given their top flight status just three short seasons ago.

For Sandford II though, it is onward and upward. The win nudged them past Shebbear and, with four to play the Creedy Park mission is simple, win against Westleigh, Incorrigibles, Barnstaple & Pilton II and Bude, and they will play Division Two cricket next summer.

Bratton Fleming II remain one of only two sides throughout the Five Divisions of the League without a win this term when they were humbled at home by Barnstaple & Pilton II. Rob Holm hit 95 as Barum totalled 175-7. Steve Ayre (3-36), Oli Hunt (2-16) and James Thomas (1-40), were amongst the wickets for the hosts who were then skittled out for just 52 with Ayre (10) the only bat into double figures as Jack Popham claimed a four wicket haul, George McEndoo netted three, and there was a brace for Martin Brice.

Division Four

WITH Cheriton Fitzpaine being unable to raise a side and so gifting the points to Newton Tracey II, it left the only 3^rd Division action being that at Lynton & Lynmouth where table topping Weare Giffard plundered a whopping 417 and then hustled the hosts out for 65 to move to within a single win of being crowned Divisional champions.

Mike Hedden struck a magnificent 191 and Jay Wittram chipped in with 85 and then Ian Jury took 5-25 and Billy Curtis 3-5 as Weare Giffard won by a massive 332 runs.

Division Five

THERE was something of a surprise at Petrockstowe where promotion chasing North Molton, playing their final game of the season, were beaten for only the 3^rd time this term but the defeat still leaves them safely in a top two berth from which they cannot now be ousted.

Batting first North Molton could only manage a total of 105 with Matt Geen providing the top score of 40. The home side sealed a six wicket win with James Tapp claiming three of the wickets for the beaten visitors.

Barnstaple & Pilton III thrashed visiting Bude II by nine wickets but even back to back wins in their last two will not be sufficient to see them overhaul North Molton. Bating first, Bude skipper Mike Taylor (24) and Ben Bickle (20), scored the bulk of the runs in their side’s 98 all out. For Barum Andrew Fewings claimed 3-10 and Peter Gleave took 3-14.The hosts then cruised home, losing just the one wicket thanks to Chris Newton (51no) and his step-son, Joe Chugg, who was at the other end when victory was sealed, with an unbeaten 24.

Heathcoat II won their Saturday engagement at Filleigh III where they scored 171-8 thanks mainly to Jim Cridland with 70. Karl Shaw took 3-24 for the home side and then hit 19, bettered only by the 20 from the bat of John Harrison as the Filleigh reply closed on 117. Lee Dixon and Tom Lilley de Cruz, both took a couple of wickets for the Knightshayes men.