Devon Cricket Board - Sandford send leaders tumbling

NORTH DEVON LEAGUE – WEEK 13

Tables

JUST two top flight games were played in week 13 but one of them made a difference to the top of the table as leaders Newton Tracey were well beaten at Sandford, writes Stephen Birley.

The Newton Tracey defeat means that every top flight side has already lost at least two games and there are now five teams separated by just a single point’s average as the competition reaches the halfway stage.

It looks set to be the closest title race in years with the normal yard stick being no more then two defeats to land the top honour!

Richard Screech was the only batsmen to prosper at Creedy Park where Newton Tracey were bowled out for 157 with Ryan Glass the chief wicket taker with 3-45. Sean Hawkins then hit an unbeaten 68 and Russell Discombe chipped in with 58 as Sandford closed out a comfortable victory for the loss of just two wickets.

North Devon are right back in the hunt to retain their crown after they won at a canter at Braunton where they were eight wicket victors. Former Instow favourite Stuart Rhodes (79) and skipper Alex Hodges (53) – the pair added 76 for the fifth wicket, led the hosts to 194-8. Joe Kelly, Alex Smith and Robert Mann each bagged a brace of wickets for the visitors who then cruised to victory led there by Mike Hedden (86), Max Curtis (42) and Tom Ansell (42).

RESULTS

Braunton 194-8 (S Rhodes 79, A Hodges 53; J Kelly 2-26), North Devon 198-2 (M Hedden 86, M Curtis 42, T Ansell 42). North Devon (20pts) bt Braunton (2) by 8 wkts.

Newton Tracey 157 (R Screech 62; R Glass 3-45, S Ashplant 1-45), Sandford 158-2 (S Hawkins 68no, R Discombe 56). Sandford (20pts) bt Newton Tracey (2) by 8 wkts.

IN Division Two, Barnstaple and Pilton won the match of the day, maintaining their one hundred per cent record with a 38 run win at second in the table Beaford.

Ten man Barum batted first and were in trouble on 107-7 before Yasir Iqbal (45) and Ashok Ale (38) took them to a close of 194-8. Tom Popham (31) and George McEndoo (25) also made contributions whilst Mark Lake, Alex Crisp and Paul Heard all bagged braces of wickets. Beaford were then bowled out for 156 with only Mark Lake (39) and Ali McMillan (23) amongst the runs although the total was boosted by a whopping 62 extras! Jack Popham (3-33), Brady Saunders (3-28) and Yasir Iqbal (3-26) were the wicket takers for the table toppers.

Incorrigbles climbed into third spot with a 108 run home win over Lynton and Lynmouth. It was recent acquisitions from Thorverton , Will Denford and Greg Fury who provided the bulk of the Witheridge sides runs. Denford hit a sparkling 90 and Fury chipped in with 59 taking their new side to 278-8. Connor Constable (3-45) and Ian Hobbs (2-24) claimed wickets for the visitors who were then bowled out for 170. Lawrence May with 49, was the only batsman to make progress whilst Matt Weeks picked up three wickets for the victorious home side.

Shebbear edged a two wicket win at ten man Morebath. The Mid Devon side batted first and closed on 174-9 with Chris Hill top scoring with 64 and Charlie Howe weighting in with 33. Ollie Wicket took 4-15 from eight excellent overs. Wicket then top scored with 57 and James Starkey hit 47. At 152-1, the run chase looked a formality, then Charlie Howe was introduced and he promptly helped himself to a fivefer, just missing out on a hat-trick in the process as he finished with 5-42 but the visitors had enough in the tank to edge home by two wickets.

RESULTS

Morebath 174-9 (C Hill 64, C Howe 33; O Wicket 4-15), Shebbear 175-8 (O Wicket 57, J Starkey 43; C Howe 5-42). Shebbear (20pts) bt Morebath (8) by 2 wkts.

Incorrigibles 278-8 (W Denford 90, A Fury 59; C Constable 3-45, I Hobbs 2-24), Lynton and Lynmouth 170 (L May 49; M Weeks 3-21, J Hope 2-1). Incorrigibles (20pts) bt Lynton and Lynmouth (2) by 108 runs.

Barnstaple and Pilton 194-8 ( Y Iqbal 45, A Ale 38, T Popham 31, G McEndoo 25; M lake 2-25, A Crisp 2-28, P Herd 2-50), Beaford 156 (M lake 39, A McMillan 23; Y Iqbal 3-26, B Saunders 3-28, J Popham 3-33). Barnstaple and Pilton (20pts) bt Beaford 6) by 38 runs.

THE one game played in Division Three was dominated by a player more accustomed to top flight cricket! Matt Allin led the Holsworthy bowlers a merry dance plundering an unbeaten 142 to guide Bideford II to a five wicket away win. Earlier Darren Jenkin top scored for the home side with 36 in a total of 195-8. Mike Barrett took 3-26 for Bideford who then sat back and left the run chase to Allin who closed with that unbeaten 142 out of a winning score of 196-5. Andrew Butler finished with 3-41 and Rob Mitchell ended with 2-38.

RESULTS

Holsworthy 195-8 (D Jenkin 36; M Barrett 3-26), Bideford II 196-5 (M Allin 142no; A Butler 3-41, R Mitchell 2-38). Bideford II (20pts) bt Holsworthy (5) by 5 wkts.

Division Four leaders Belstone powered to 252-2 at North Devon III thanks to two centuries. Scott Tremain hit 105 and that score was matched by Chris Walpole who recorded his first ever three figure knock. Bob Heaman top scored with 49 in the reply which closed on 119-9. Dave Binns (3-40) and John Parsons (2-30), were the principle wicket takers.

Petrockstowe scored 225-6 at Victoria Park II where they then restricted the hosts to 138-7 to land an 87 run win. Ollie Scantlebury (66) and Steven Cox (46) were the main providers of runs for the visiting side whilst Adam Randleson (2-11 and Nigel Taylor (2-29) claimed wickets. Ian Brown (44) and Tim Lane (41no) were the highest scorers for the home side with Ian Cockwill picking up three wickets for the visitors.

Lynton and Lynmouth II climbed off the bottom of the Division Four table and out of the bottom two with a six wicket win at home to North Molton. Chasing 145 to win, Pete Druce (61), who had earlier taken three wickets, and Gary Phillips, saw their side over the winning line.

RESULTS

Belstone 252-2 (S Tremain 105no, C Walpole 105), North Devon III 119-9 (B Heaman 49; D Binns 3-40, J Parsons 2-30). Belstone (20pts) bt North Devon III (0) by 133 runs.

Petrockstowe 225-6 (O Scantlebury 66, S Cox 46; A Randleson 2-11, N Taylor 2-49), Victoria Park II 138-7 (I Brown 44, T Lane 41no; I Cockwill 3-28). Petrockstowe (20pts) bt Victoria Park (4) by 87 runs.

North Molton 144, Lynton and Lynmouth II 145-4. Lynton and Lynmouth (20pts) bt North Molton (4pts) by 6 wkts.

In Division Five Filleigh III climbed into a promotion berth after a five wicket win at Barnstaple and Pilton. McCauley Harrison-Hooton was the star of the show with the ball for Filleigh, the youngster claimed 3-8 as only Brian Roe with an unbeaten 85 got runs for Barum who closed on 170-5. Will Popplewell (46) and Mark Popplewell (35) led their side to a five wicket victory, Jamie Rowe picked up three wickets for beaten Barum.

Ilfracombe could only muster eight men but still travelled to Bishops Nympton where they were bowled out for 113. Mark Cavanagh hit 20 of the Ilfracombe runs whilst Will Palmer sent down nine excellent overs taking 2-8. Jamie Giffard (60no) and Patrick Talbot (30no) then put on a century for the unbroken third wicket to lead the hosts to an eight wicket win.

Pete Guest top scored with an unbeaten 81 and knocks of 45 from Chris Gregson and 31 from Will Clancy helped Heathcoat II to 268-7 at home to Cheriton Fitzpaine. Mark English took 2-25 for the Cherries who were the bowled out for 116 with John Pitts and Mike Foan both scoring 17. Jamie Drew (2-8), Matt Hadson (2-10) and Nick Goulty (2-15) were all amongst the wickets.

RESULTS

Heathcoat II 268-7 (P Guest 81no, C Gregson 45, W Clancy 31; M English 2-25), Cheriton Fitzpaine 116 (J Pitt 17, M Foan 17; J Drew 21-8, M Hadson 2-10, N Goulty 2-15). Heathcoat (20pts) bt Cheriton Fitzpaine (0) by 152 runs.

Ilfracombe 113 (M Cavanagh 20; W Palmer 2-8), Bishops Nympton 114-2 (J Giffard 60no, P Talbot 30no). Bishops Nympton (20pts) bt Ilfracombe (2) by 8 wkts.

Barnstaple and Pilton III 170-5 (B Roe 85no; M Harrison-Hooton 3-8), Filleigh III 17105 (W Popplewell 46, M Popplewell 35; J Rowe 3-29). Filleigh (20pts) bt Barnstaple and Pilton (5) by 5 wkts.