Devon Cricket Board - Heathcoat go top and Belstone clinch promotion

STAY IN NORTH DEVON LEAGUE – WEEK 20
TABLES
JUST one game was scheduled for the top flight and it was not played owing to a rain soaked wicket at Filleigh where the home side had been due to entertain Barnstaple and Pilton.
That’s the end of the Filleigh season, one that has seen them have exactly half of their 14 matches cancelled owing to the weather!
They have won as many as any one else in the top division with five wins, and they have lost just two, no one can better that record.
However, they will not be crowned champions as both current leaders North Devon and Newton Tracey have games to play and one of them will land the top honour.
There are just half a dozen top division games to be played with the key game looking like the September 9, meeting between Newton Tracey and North Devon, weather permitting!
The one Division Two game in the Bank Holiday weekend programme was washed out with a soggy wicket to blame at Lynton and Lynmouth where Weare Giffard were to have been the visiting side.
Not playing did neither any good as they sit in the two relegation places and barring some unexpected results the pair will meet again as Division Three sides next season.
Division Three saw two matches with one of them bringing Belstone a fifth win of the season thanks to a 143 run win over visiting Newton Tracey II.
Gary Sizmur struck an unbeaten 89 from the number three slot as he and Scott Tremain (66) led their side to 220-5.
Mark Cowling took 2-43 for the visitors who were then bundled out for just 77 with only Andy Chatham making much impression with 23 as Ryan Dennis (2-7) and Sizmur (2-8) the pick of the home bowlers.
Matt Dart claimed 6-13 as North Devon II bagged only a second win of the season, beating visiting Sandford II by five wickets at Instow.
The Mid Devon men were shot out for 101, passed for the loss of five wickets by the hosts thanks to Ross Clayton and Luke Peterson who saw their side over the line after the loss of early wickets.
Division Four saw Heathcoat climb into top spot at the expense of non playing Ilfracombe with a six wicket home win over Barnstaple and Pilton II.
Nick Goulty took 6-17 as only Brady Saunders with 40 put up significant resistance in a Barum total of 176.
Will Browne then hit an unbeaten 74 and, supported by Dan Reed with 57, the Knightshayes side got home with six wickets to spare.
Neil Merrick playing only his second game of the season took a hat-trick as North Devon II were restricted to 153-9 at Westleigh.
Unfortunately the Merrick heroics were not in a winning cause as his side were then bowled out for 112 with only James Tythcott making an impression with the bat with his knock of 31.
Division Five produced a glorious victory for Belstone which confirmed their promotion.
James Campbell to hit an unbeaten 52 from the number six position whilst Jamie Giffard (46) and Toby Lockhead (34) also chipped in as Belstone closed on 175-8.
Giles Bashford claimed 3-27 for Victoria Park II were then bowled out for 125 with Lee Merrick top scoring with 67.
It was a family affair with the ball for the promoted side as Toby Lockhead followed his fine stint with the bat with 4-23 whilst his father Neil sent down 2-4 overs and also claimed four wickets, his for just six runs! It’s been a wonderful campaign for Belstone and skipper Michael Burrows in his first season at the helm.
Rich Turner struck 94 as Bratton Fleming struck the day’s highest team score of 244-9.
Mitch Bryan then took five Nomansland wickets for just four runs in seven superb overs as the Witheridge based side were hustled out for just 46.
Division One
Filleigh v Barnstaple and Pilton. No play, rain.
Division Two.
Lynton and Lynmouth v Weare Giffard. No play, rain.
Division Three.
Belstone 220-5 (G Sizmur 89no, S Tremain 66; M Cowling 2-43), Newton Tracey II 77 (A Chatham 23; R Dennis 2-7, G Sizmur 2-8). Belstone (20pts) bt Newton Tracey (0) by 143 runs.
Sandford II 101 (M Dart 6-13), North Devon II 102-5 (R Clayton 30no, L Peterson 28no). North Devon (20pts) bt Sandford (5) by 5 wkts.
Division Four
Barnstaple and Pilton II 176 (B Saunders 40; N Goulty 6-17), Heathcoat II 177-4 (W Browne 74no, D Reed 57). Heathcoat (20pts) bt Barnstaple and Pilton (4) by 6 wkts.
North Devon III 153-9 (N Merrick bowled a hat-trick), Westleigh 112 (J Tythcott 31). North Devon (20pts) bt Westleigh (4) by 41 runs.
Division Five
Barnstaple and Pilton III v Dulverton. No play, rain.
Bishops Nympton 175-8 (J Campbell 52no, J Giffard 46, T Lockhead 34; G Bashford 3-27), Victoria Park II 125 (L Merrick 67; N Lockhead 4-6, T Lockhead 4-23). Bishops Nympton (20pts) bt Victoria Park (6) by 50 runs.
Bratton Fleming II 244-9 (R Tucker 94), Nomansland 46 (M Bryan 4-5). Bratton Fleming (20pts) bt Nomansland (0) by `198 runs.