- 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
Will Christophers - Bovey Tracey CC
Joe Hagan-Burt - Plymouth CC
Alex Hannam - Bideford, Littleham & Westward Ho! CC
Owen Gannon - Plympton CC
Finlay Marks - Exmouth CC
Jack Lockwood - Heathcoat CC
Matt Petherbridge - Cornwood CC
Ben Phillips - Thorverton CC
Ollie Reed - Ottery St Mary CC
Billy Rudolph - Ottery St Mary CC
Harvey Sargent - Sidmouth CC
Kazi Szymanski - Chelston CC
Harry Ward - Paignton CC
Noah Wright - Paignton CC
33
degrees in the shade in February, and Devon U15s are taking the field for the
first game of the annual tour of South Africa, starting at the glorious Skukuza
Cricket Ground in Kruger National Park. 
Devon started the day well with tour Captain Billy Rudolph calling correctly and batting first in the searing heat. Openers Noah Wright and Harvey Sargent started the Devon innings putting on 24 for the first wicket, however Devon lost wickets at regular intervals with no batters getting more than 30. Two innings worthy of note were Kazi Syzmanski (20) and Jack Lockwood (30), both very dogged knocks that managed to get the overall total to 134 all out in 57.3overs.
With a low first innings total Syzmanski and Hagen-Burt took the new ball. Syzmanski reaped the rewards of bowling straight, knocking over the opening batter and No.3 in the space of two overs. At tea on day one Nelspruit finished 20 for 2 with the game in the balance. In the post tea session Matt Petherbridge bowled a marathon spell of 16overs straight, picking up three wickets along the way. With Harvey Sargent collecting 1 wicket as well, Nelspruit innings at the close of play finished on 116 for 6 with 18overs of the first innings remaining it’s all to play for.
(Pictured above Billy Rudolph batting in Devon's first innings)
Day 2:-
Going into day 2 Nelspruit School trailed Devon by 18 runs, this defecit however was quickly knocked off and turned into a 72 run lead moving into the second innings. Despite the efforts of Nelspruit batsman Bernard who made batting look very easy, making 105 of the 192 total, Devon managed to bowl the Nelspruit side out with 3 overs to spare of the 65 over first innings. This was thanks to a fine spell of bowling in the first hour of the morning by Ollie Reed who picked up figures of 4 for 31.
Devon went into there second innings trailing by 58 runs on a day to wicket which was getting slower and lower; batting was certainly not easy. Joe Hagen-Burt was the star of the show in the second innings with a well paced 71, which held the Devon innings together. Devon finally declared after reaching 189 for 9 leaving Nelspruit School needing 133 to win in 23 overs.
Nelspruit started with the intent to win but after a couple of run outs and ever increasing run rate, Nelspruit finished 98 for 3 at close of play.
(Pictured above the squad at Nelspruit Airport)
Vereeniging Gymnasium Academy Side were a side of mixed ages up to under 17 complied by Morne Morkel's father Albert, who runs a team branded as his academy from just south of Jo'burg. A scorching hot day in the Kruger awaited the two sides, Billy Rudolph lost the toss of the coin and Vereeniging Gymnasium decided to bat first.
Hagen - Burt's first over couldn't have started much better dismissing the opening batter second ball of the game. Hagen-Burt and Hannam bowled a tight opening first ten overs going for 38 runs between them with the fall of one wicket. Devon's day however took a turn for the worse in the searing heat, with some sloppy fielding and dropped catches proving costly. Devon were given a helping hand when Pella Vereenining's captain decided to retire himself after taking a hundred from the Devon team. Devon stuck at it in the field and managed to take regular wickets towards the end of the innings finishing, with the innings closing on 244 for 8. Pick of the bowlers would have been Joe Hagen-Burt for 10-1-36-3, other bowlers of note were Will Christophers with two wickets and Alex Hannam and Matt Petherbridge with one a piece.
Batting started brightly for Devon with Owen Gannon and Noah Wright capitalising on some wayward bowling by Vereeninging, after 17 overs Devon had got to 70 for no loss. Devon however lost there way when the pace came off the ball and the spinners came on, losing 6 wickets for 58 runs. With the game all bar gone Ben Phillips and Alex Hannam put some respectability to the Devon score getting Devon up to 199 - 9 at the end of the 50.
Devon lost but have some real positives to take out of the performance going down into Cape Town. (Pictured Above:- Devon boys taking on some fluids in the heat of Kruger National Park)
Match 3 - 40 over Game @ Bergvilet High School v WP. Development X1
Devon's innings never really got going with non of the batters surpassing more than 21. Finlay Marks batting towards the end of the Devon innings managing Devon's high score of 21, Devon were finally bowled out for 107. A disapointing batting display, in tricky conditions under the floodlights against some well drilled spinners, who kept the Devon batters honest.
Match 4 - 50 over game @ Western Province Cricket Club v Boland Regional Side
Harvey
Sargent led the way with 104 as Devon U15s managed there first win of the tour.
On a scorching day at Western Province Cricket Club, Devon lost the toss and
was inserted to bat on a well-worn wicket.
Sargent opened the batting with Noah Wright and put on over 100 for the
first wicket, Wright fell for 44 but Sargent continued on his way with cameo
support innings from Ben Phillips and Kazi Szymanski to get his team to 259 for
5 in the 50.
The Boland innings never got going with the fall of wickets throughout the first 10 overs. Boland were dismissed after a miserly 21.5 overs for 69. The Devon bowlers who cleaned up were; Matt Petherbridge with superb figures of 7 for 4 and two wickets a piece for Alex Hannam and Ollie Reed.
Devon
now move onto the Vineyard Oval to play Western Province U14s in a 2 day match,
this undoubtedly will be there toughest challenge to date.
(Pictured Right :- Harvey Sargent after his maiden county 100)
Match Result – Devon Won by 190 runs
Match 5 – 2 Day Game (120 overs per day) @ The Vineyard Oval v Western Province U14s
Day 1
Sargent makes history! The Vineyard Oval was the stage for Harvey Sargent to put together a magnificent second hundred of the tour. Centurions in South Africa over the 13 years have been few and far between, however this seems far from a problem for Harvey who has made two in consecutive games. Sargent was finally dismissed for 134, where he showed real composure and batsmanship skills to manipulate the bowling all around the picturesque Vineyard ground.
Sargent was ably supported by Joe Hagan-Burt (46), other notable contributions from Finlay Marks (36) and Billy Rudolph (21*), this brought Devon’s final total at the end of the 60 to 286 for 7.
Devon couldn’t have started much better with the ball with Will Christophers reducing the Province to 7 for 2, however Western Province’s young side showed real fight and recovered to 115 for 4. At the end of the 60 overs Devon managed to restrict Western Province to 202 for 6 with a couple of notable bowling performances from Harry Ward (14-4-41-2) and Will Christophers (7-1-21-1).
Devon moved into day 2 84 in front with all to play for.
Day 2
After Sargent’s heroics on day 1 Devon had the task of setting a total and then bowling Western Province out. Devon’s day started slowly with no batters kicking on after getting good starts, however Devon managed to gain a lead of 267. Handy contributions came from Jack Lockwood (44) and Kazi Szymanski (48), the latter hitting a rather large six first over after lunch over long on to set out his intentions quite clearly.
The
game was setup for a couple of hard sessions for Devon to claim the 10 wickets
needed to take the victory, with 71 overs left of cricket in the day it was a
good challenge for the boys to see if they had the skills to bowl the
opposition out. 
A fantastic bowling effort by the Devon bowlers saw Western Province U14s dismissed in the 71st over of their innings. Pick of the bowlers were Matt Petherbridge claiming 3 for 58 and Ollie Reed who’s persistent straight bowling paid dividend’s taking 2 for 20.
(Pictured Above:- Matt Petherbridge gets the last wicket at the Vineyard Oval)
Match Result: - Devon Won by 63 runs
Match Scorecard Click Here
Match 6 - 50 Over Game @ Bellville Cricket Club v Western Province U15s
When the second ball of the Devon innings thudded into the wicket keepers gloves 20 yards back at searing pace for a 15 year old, the 244 looked like it could be a tough ask. Nevertheless tour double centurion Harvey Sargent got in behind the fast bowling managing to get second highest score of the Devon innings with 18. Devon's innings never got going with the discplined spin bowling and a trio of 'fast' bowlers who bowled very little in Devon batsman's half. Kazi Szymanski put some respectability to the score getting 28 not out, however Devon finished 138 runs short of the Western Province total.
Played 6 - Won 2 - Drawn 1 - Lost 3
Further Photos on Facebook
Tour Report 2014
Devon began their 13th development tour to South Africa in Kruger where they were greeted by high temperatures, a sharp contrast to the thoroughly saturated weather they had left behind in the UK.
As ever the contrast in weather and pitches together with encountering talented and competitive opponents (who of course were in mid season) presented the tourists with the usual stiff challenge.
The first game in Skukuza, a two-day game against Nelspruit provided an ideal start to the tour. Adjusting well to the hot and humid conditions there was a possibility of beginning the tour with a win, but a good batting surface and some determined batting meant that Devon were unable to take the number of wickets required.
The second fixture against a much older academy side from south of Johannesburg was a particularly demanding contest. The additional power of the Vereeniging batting proving decisive in setting a target which always looked out of reach despite a flat and easy paced batting surface
Two fixtures against development sides in Cape Town indicated the enormous efforts being made to attract young black players to cricket. Having played against development sides from Western Province over several years we were well aware of the improvements being made in the quality of players from the township areas. This was confirmed by some impressive batting and bowling performances by enthusiastic opponents, which, backed up by some athletic and competitive fielding, proved decisive in the development side gaining a comfortable win. Thankfully A much improved performance by Devon players against a development side from Boland, played at the impressive Western Province CC ground resulted in an emphatic win by 170 runs.
As ever the matches against Western Province sides tested the credentials of our young players. Encouraging reporting that while we were well beaten by a strong and impressive WP U15 side the players responded exceedingly well by winning the final game of the tour a two day game against a WP U14 side, the first time we have managed to achieve this.
From a cricket point of view the tour provided everything we could hope for, The players clearly listened to the advice available, worked hard throughout and finished looking a much better outfit than the one which arrived in South Africa just two weeks earlier. Short tours tend to exaggerate failure and it to their credit they listened to the advice available, became a more cohesive unit and, without exception, worked hard to maximise their potential.
Captaining a cricket team is demanding at the best of times, even more so when faced with capable opposition in unfamiliar conditions. Billy Rudolph, a quick learner who absorbed ideas quickly, was an effective leader who enjoyed the support of the whole squad.
Of course not all the benefits, which the tour provides can be captured by simple playing statistics. The experience of visiting such a wonderful country as part of a county side provides a rich opportunity for the players, which they appeared to take full advantage of. Many of the things they saw will remain with them long into the future. Our relations with good friends in Cape Town and Kruger ensure that they achieve an insight into aspects of life not achievable through a normal family holiday.
Grateful thanks to all the staff who worked so hard to make the tour such a success and, most importantly, to the players who conducted themselves with credit both on and off the field.
Alan Swift
Team Manager
Results
Devon 134 and 189-9 dec
Nelspruit 192 and 98- 3
Match Drawn
Vereeniging Academy 244 - 8
Devon 199 - 9
Vereeniging won by 45 Runs
Western Province Dev XI. 182 - 7
Devon 108
WP Dev XI Won by 75 Runs
Devon 259 - 5
Boland Dev XI 89
Devon Won by 170 Runs
Devon 286 - 7 Dec and 182 - 6 Dec
Western Province U14 XI. 202 - 6 Dec and 203
Devon Won by 83 Runs
Western Province U15. 244 - 4
Devon 108
Western Province Won by 138 Runs
Batting
Innings. Runs. Average. Highest
H Sargent. 6 283 47.2. 135
J Hagan-Burt 6 146 29.2. 71
N Wright 7 131 18.7 44
K Szymanski 6 117 29.3 41
B Phillips 7 115 16.4 37
Bowling
Overs Maidens Runs Wickets Average
M Petherbridge 63.2 15 181 12 15.1
O Reed 49.2 4 183 9 20.3
A Hannam 45 3 155 5 31.0
J Hagan-Burt. 55 5 188 5 37.0
W Christophers. 42. 2. 157 5 25.0