- 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
PREMIER 2nd XI
PAIGNTON 2nd XI captain Tim Ward is already plotting the way out of trouble after a seven-wicket defeat by leaders Plymouth left his side too close for comfort to the drop zone.
Ward made 50 and Mark Griffiths 23 in depleted Paignton’s total of 154 all out. Seven regulars were missing from the side, which is not ideal when you are in a relegation scrap.
Rob Button and Ben Stein bagged three wickets each to send Paignton on their way.
A stand of 86 for the first wicket between Stein (58) and Ben Ferrero (21) laid the foundations for a quick chase. Button made 41.
Veteran seamer Andy Wakeham (2-58) dusted off his kit to kelp Ward out of a spot.
Paignton aren’t in the bottom two yet, but only seven points separate them from Hatherleigh who are. The two teams meet this Saturday.
Said Ward: “With the side we managed to get out we did reasonably well.
“We only had 3 regular second team players so 155 wasn’t too bad against a very good bowling attack.
“If we had batted the overs we would have a set a more challenging total. In the field we tried our best with plenty of commitment but 155 was never enough.
“I was very pleased with the effort and commitment the players showed.”
“We have had a run of games against top sides like Plymouth, Exeter and Sidmouth one after the other. That was always going to be difficult.
“Hatherleigh this Saturday will be key, then it is Cornwood in two weeks which is another must-win game.
“It is a close division this year as we are only 16 points off fourth place. A couple of wins and we will be flying again!”
Sidmouth 2nd XI held on for a losing draw against Bovey Tracey as their chances of retaining the title receded a little further.
Bovey racked up an impressive 289 for five on the Fortfield with opener Theo Holland leading the way with 66.
Holland, a close-season recruit from Cockington, put on 72 for the first wicket with Lewis Hammett (31) and 77 for the second with Richard Longstreet (60).
Sam Wyatt-Haines biffed 51 near the end, adding 50 for the fifth with Simon Newton (29no).
Charlie Dibble (3-68) bowled well under pressure for Sidmouth.
Sidmouth soon got behind the clock as Bovey seamer James Mason (4-39) pinned them down for 15 overs.
Arren deYoung (3-47) also kept it tight with Greg Chaplin (78no) taking no chances in the fight for survival.
Five overs out, and with Declan Lines gone for 38, the shutters came down at 197 for eight.
Chaplin and Mark Jasper (9no) ensured maximum batting points in a total of 215 for eight.
As all the sides above then either won or had winning draws, Sidmouth are down in fifth place with 50 points to make up on leaders Plymouth.
North Devon 2nd XI were no-frills winners by seven wickets at Budleigh Salterton.
Budleigh were under pressure from the start against Billy Curtis (3-21) and Tim Cook (3-35) and with Matt Dart taking two for 42 the home side limped to 139 all out.
Without a stand of 34 for the seventh wicket between Alex Richardson (29) and Darren Oxland (25) that rescued Budleigh from 91 for six, it would have been worse.
Ollie Hunt (60) and Dan Pickard (29) gave North Devon a 73 run start. Tom Ansell (24) was out at130 for three with victory in sight.
Exeter had the misfortune to run into former Devon pair Jeremy Williams and Keith Donohue when they visited Plympton, with painful consequences.
Williams, just coming back to cricket after a prolonged absence from the game, leathered 132 towards Plympton’s tally of 285 all out.
Donohue, who retired at the end of last season but has been helping out in the second team, chipped in with 72.
Under the circumstances Adam Smith (5-63) and Harry Kumar (3-62) were entitled to feel pleased with their bowling returns.
James Meredith made a top score of 61 when Exeter batted, but wickets fell steadily, exposing the tail for the last three overs.
Last pair Jack Richadson and Brian Bossomworth saw Exeter to the draw at 190 for nine.
Hatherleigh inched a little closer to safety in the Premier 2nd XI thanks to a three-wicket win at Cornwood.
The Corns were led to a total of 220 for nine by 15-year-old Luke Richardson with 83. Dave Tall (27) added 83 for the first wicket with Richardson.
There were three wickets each for Hatherleigh bowlers Ross Cherrington and Jack Ashmore.
Andy Collier (63) pointed Hatherleigh in the right direction, then Andy Bennett (66no) wrapped things up. Andy Bees (4-53) was a threat with the ball for the Corns.
Hatherleigh are still in the bottom two, but moved within seven points of Paignton, who were beaten by Plymouth.