- South Dartmoor back to winning ways in cups
- Tom Allin tournament raised more than £5,000 for air ambulance
- Taverners kit bag delivered to Sri Lankan youngsters
- Devon trying to contact the class of 56
- Paceman Tshepo running in Virgin London Marathon
- Five Devon women in Western Storm squad for Kia Super League
- Registration night for all ages at Topsham on Monday
- Lots pouring in for auction at Allin Memorial tournament
- Thames Valley Gentlemen Cricket Club
- Bradninch add Argentinian flavour to Devon League
- Ipplepen youth registration night on Friday
- Final call for Groundsmans first seminar this year
- Devon League official tackling London Marathon for charity
- Bovey on familiar territory in Aaron Printers Cup
- Brockman Cup - Cup Kings lie in wait for holders
- Shepherd Trust helps Kingsbridge build for sustainable future
- DCL - Umpire Appointments 2016 (May 7th - July 2nd)
- Long standing records beaten
- North Devon see off Paignton chase
SANDFORD skipper Jamie Palmer felt the three-wicket defeat by Plymouth might have been a win that got away.
Sandford made 158 for three between the showers at Creedy Park – South African Luandre VanWyk clubbing 61 off 24 balls to move the score along in the last five overs.
Plymouth were lagging behind at 86 – Van Wyk, Russ Discombe and Ryan Glass tying them down - and another wicket then might have killed them.
Harry Stephenson with a well-paced 43 saw Plymouth over the line with the minimum of fuss.
“We didn't bat well against some disciplined bowling,” admitted Plymouth captain Matt Hooper.
“We lost wickets in clumps and kept handing them the momentum.
“Harry Stephenson batted brilliantly and showed what a good player he is.
“It is lucky we have a lot depth in our batting order as I think we gave Sandford a sniff.
“Harry's knock was right out of the top drawer, his calm approach was just what was required.
"He made a difficult situation look very easy and showed great responsibility for getting us over the line.
“I'm glad as we are two from two and some of our big names haven't fired yet.”
Palmer said Sandford played better than they did losing to Cornwood seven days earlier and can be upbeat facing defending champions Exmouth this Saturday.
“We didn’t have the best of luck with the conditions and did well to get to 158, thanks largely to Luandre, whose ball striking was very impressive,” said Palmer.
“Having Plymouth seven down I felt we had the chance to beat them, but they batted very well at the end.
“Even so we can take plenty of positives from the game.”
There were words of encouragement, too, from Palmer’s opposite number Matt Hooper.
“When we won the toss and bowled first, I knew we stood a good chance of winning.
“Sandford batted sensibly to start with and smashed us to all parts in the last six overs.
“That kind of fighting spirit is going to stand them in good stead this season.”
Sam Stein was the pick of Plymouth’s bowlers with two for 28 – at least he was until Van Wyk mowed him around at the end.
Gionne Koopman avoided the same treatment as he was off by then and finished with none for 19 off nine.
Rob Bennett had bowled a tidy opening spell, but Van Wyk really went after him, hitting four sixes off him when he returned at the end.
Van Wyk and former Devon batsman Adrian Small (36) added 75 unbroken for the fourth wicket as Sandford rallied at the end.
When Plymouth bated they started competently and got to 67 for two before it all started going wrong.
Koopman was bowled by Discombe for 23 then Jake Luffman went four balls later – well caught low down by Glass.
Steve Luffman was particularly unlucky as he was jogging back for a second run when Glass threw down the stumps from the boundary with a direct hit.
Having lost three men for 18 runs Stephenson and Benett stopped the rot with skipper Hooper (23no) joining Stephenson to polish off the last 54 needed.