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The DCB Under 15 Inter District Competition
for The Buller Bowl
2007 Champions The South

The East, started their season with an exciting game with the West coming out winners by just one wicket.  The West won the toss and elected to bat - which they quickly regretted as the conditions were onducive to swing and opening bowlers Paris Pinney and Toby Ingham tore into the West top order - leaving the score at 24 for 4 after only 8 overs, this brought together Tom Watkins and Mohsin Alam. Watkins steadied the ship, quietly playing himself in - he then started to score steadily and sensibly with some very nice controlled strokes. Whilst Alam continued to try and attack every ball, which when he connected - went away hard from his bat. This contrast in styles seemed to gel somehow and certainly this partnership proved crucial in getting the West back into the match. Miles Lenygon, the East captain had decided that he had his own ideas about the bowling order and despite the swinging conditions quickly introduced spin. JJ Debenham didn't have much luck. Miles then introduced himself to the attack with excellent effect - breaking the crucial partnership, and in fact he dismissed both Alam and Watkins. Alam ending on an aggressive 45 and Watson on a cultured 43. The tail failed to wag with the last five West batters only managing 10 runs off the bat. Lenygon bowled as he does and ended up with 5 for 25 off 8 overs, Pinney 2 for 13 off 5 overs and Ingham 2 for 32 off 5 overs. Will Gater after bowling 4 wides managed to bag the final wicket. The highest scorer for the West was Mr Extras on 46, which was to say the least - very disappointing for the East's coach. The West were all out for 152 off 30 overs. Tea was taken early - beautifully prepared by Linda Steer.

With only 3 runs per over required on what was an excellent track, the East felt very confident - perhaps over confident. Their coach was overheard telling the West lads not to worry too much as the East still had to bat!!! Perhaps he had consulted an oracle, for the match quickly became a nail biter with either side looking like they could win. It all started brightly enough with James Toland cover driving the first delivery of the East Innings for 4 runs and following up 2 balls later with another. Then J J Debenham, opening in the absence of Henry Parkin - slashed at an away swinger, outside the off stump from Alex Carr and was duly caught behind. This then brought the dangerous and hard hitting Will Gater to the crease. He was quickly dismayed to be dismissed on the second ball he received from Carr - pushing hard at one outside off stump and getting caught by a great diving catch in the gully by Bennett. Gater felt it had not carried and stood his ground and awaited the umpires decision - which duly came and he was on his way back to the pavilion for a hugely disappointing duck. These dismissals crucially brought the West back into the game, with the East at 37 for 2 after 4 overs. Toland was then joined by Miles Lenygon, who very sensibly batted correctly taking no chances and putting the occasional loose delivery away. Meanwhile Toland continued to attack and soon landed one of Carrs deliveries on the pavilion roof for six. Soon after though he mistimed another mighty blow -skying one, which fortunately for the East was put down. This would prove to be crucial as Toland and Lenygon put on a partnership of 55 - with Toland reaching his 50. With Lenygon now needing a runner because of back problems, Toland continued to bat aggressively and on 62 decided to charge the bowler, played - missed and was duly stumped. A quick fire and extremely valuable innings was brought to an end. The East were now on 92 for 3, requiring 61 for victory off 35 overs. This brought Paris Pinney to the crease for what eventually proved to be a crucial knock By this time the West had turned to spin at both ends - Nathan Bulley partnering S. Tall. In the space of three overs 92 for 3 became 98 for 6. Miles Lenygon caught on 15. Peter Steer came and went in 3 balls - dot - 4  - slash outside off-stump = gone, caught behind. Michael Collinge went first ball, caught and bowled. S. Tall had now taken 4 quick and cheap wickets. At the other-end Bulley was bowling a nagging and accurate length and was proving diffcult to get away. With plenty of overs in hand Pinney was patient and took no chances, he soon found it more comfortable to play Bulley on the back foot and waited for the occasional looser delivery to quietly build his score. At the other end he was joined by Toby Ingham whose natural inclination is to attack, but he very sensibly batted carefully and he and Pinney steadied the East's ship. This careful partnership eventually saw off the spinners, prompting a bowling change -bringing back the seamers - opening bowler Carr and first change - Bennett.

Pinney and Ingham vitally stayed together and took the score from 98 for 6 up to 132, before Bennett had Ingham caught for an important 11 runs. Either side could now win. The East needed 21 for victory off 25 overs - but with 7 wickets down. Pinney was now joined by England ten pin bowler Michael Walker - he looked absolutely solid in defence, and left it to Pinney to try and bring the East home. Pinney then played and narrowly missed a Carr delivery but replied next delivery with a sweetly timed straight 4. The score slowly advanced to 146 for 7 - only 8 runs required now off 22 overs. The East must be there now? But not quite, Pinney eventually decided to get aggressive and reached for one outside off stump from Bennett, hoping to cut him for four, he caught an edge and fell to a well taken catch behind. This was unfortunate for him as he had nearly seen it all the way home. Nevertheless a very important and patient 24 from Pinney had brought the win within reach for his team. It was now 146 for 8, well into the tail-enders and West scented a remarkable victory. On the Boundary meanwhile the East Coach, Andrew Pinney, needed the toilet, J J couldn't keep quiet, the captain had a manic frozen stare on his face and nails were chewed into oblivion as Nick Leach made his way to the middle at the non-strikers end -as it was the end of the over.Walker now faced, East needed seven runs to win - a wide - 6 runs needed, dot, dot, then a nice four. Only two runs required, it's an end of over. Leach faces, block dot, leaves a straight one and is clean bowled. This now left one wicket required or two runs. Lawrence Greenway strode out to the middle with a smile on his face -iIs he showing confidence or is he just nervous/ The atmosphere could have been with a knife! Greenway comfortably blocked the remaining four deliveries. Walker faced, Carr bowled - 4 blocked successfully. Walker timed a drive through mid-wicket and ran the 2 needed for victory, Greenway ambled -with the rest of the team screaming at him to get a move on. The East claimed victory by one wicket.Our appreciation to Shobrooke Park Cricket Club for hosting the match, a fine wicket had been prepared by John Hill , a fine tea and refreshments was provided by Linda Steer.

The South won the toss and batted and proceeded to score at 5.66 to raise a daunting target of 283 for their opponents the North. Opener and South Man of the Match Luke Tuckett raced to a hundred as the openers put on 123, Matt Thompson fell first and a further fifty-two were put on for the second wicket. The third wicket pairing put on 60 with useful contributions from Stevenson and Hickey The visitors were never in the hunt with Ben Curtis falling one short of his fifty and extras adding 37. Durman, Taylor and Field took two wicket apiece. Ben Curtis who had also taken a wicket gained the North's man of the match nomination.

It was another high scoring affair when the South entertained the East in the critical 2007 fixture. Dartington's Ryan Stevenson turned in a match-winning performance with the bat to steer the South Devon District Under-15 team to a memorable victory over rivals East Devon at Bovey Tracey on. The Dartington and Totnes all-rounder, whose previous all-time best score was a mere 51, gave a faultless display at the crease, batting with complete authority for the best part of three hours without giving a chance to finish the game unbeaten on 119. East Devon, who won the toss and elected to bat, started well enough although it wasn't long before dangerman James Toland was unnecessarily run out. With little penetration from the South's bowlers and some indifferent fielding, East Devon 's top order started to accumulate runs effortlessly at around five an over on what was a pretty flat strip. It was a welcome relief when Luke Tuckett bowled Henry Parkin just short of his half-century, but still the runs came easily for the visitors. Soon it was Will Gater's turn however to be needlessly run out following a mix-up with his partner, but Captain Miles Lenygon reached a creditable century before suffering the same fate. A rapid 41 from number seven Jonathan Debenham helped the East to finish on 279 for 6 at the close of innings. Tom Field and Ryan Stevenson were easily the South's most economical bowlers, Field finishing with figures of 1 for 18 off 5 overs.

The South set about their task, but when Luke Tuckett fell victim early on, caught and bowled by Gater, Stevenson and captain Matt Thompson set about building a foundation that could be turned into victory. Never giving the East any excuse for optimism, these two grafted away, over after over, forging a second wicket partnership of 135 before Thompson was caught at mid-on trying to step up a gear, his 58 an invaluable contribution to the cause. Enter Stevenson's club colleague and West of England all-rounder Matt Hickey. With over 100 still needed to win, the pair conspired to give a wonderful exhibition of controlled hitting to keep their district in the game. With five overs remaining, South Devon still required 40, but made it home without further loss and with two overs to spare. At the heart of this emphatic eight wicket victory was Stevenson's impeccable innings that oozed maturity and class.

The North took twenty points in their 76 run win over the West. Batting first the North's openers Tom Mitcham and Barnaby Huxtable pit on 80, George McEndoo then put the home side under some more pressure and Dan Brierley (20) and King (25*) both made important contributions in the final score of 202. Alex Carr gained his sides man of the match award with figures of 10-3-32-3. In reply Jake Luffman, Alex Carr, Bennett and Will Chapman reached double figures as their side were dismissed for 126 in 39 overs with extras contributing 33. McEndoo added a ten over spell taking 2-24 to his 31 to gain the North's man of the match nomination.

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