A professional performance was sought from the 16s in their Inter County game against the Isle of Wight and in a rain reduced game they put one on. Devon were inserted and the captaincy team opened and put on 70 runs off 75 balls when the light rain and rubber studs combined to create a slip and Smith was on his way back run out for a 31 ball 26. After 17 overs and at 86-1 the light rain became heavy and the umpires took the players off the field. After loosing 7 overs, which was increased to nine with a later shower the game was reduced in overs to eventually 42 a side. Garry Chappell was well set but lost his Bradninch keeper immediately after the break when Hardy took sympathy on his opposite number and was stumped. David Wrench, who is having a brilliant Premier League season, playing perhaps not his natural game on a Saturday, started to play like the old David and with Chappell put on 59 before Wrench again played across the line to be caught for a 51 ball 38. Hopefully as the season progresses Wrenchey will get back into the old driving game that brought him hundreds at 14 and two sixes in this innings. After 31 overs Devon were 154-4 with Chappell run out for the first time in the week. His 66 was off 93 balls with 8 fours, he batted with skill and ability. The Plymouth pairing of Danny Carroll and Chris Lock then pushed on scoring 55 off only 30 balls with Carroll the leading partner. Lock was bowled at 209 and Carroll continued the charge with under 14 keeper Sam Smith. The pair put on 29 off 13 balls with sixes again featuring. In his 61 Carroll hit three sixes and six fours. Smith was not out of place in this company or partnership and his one handed six over the keeper one of the season’s more memorable shots. He nicked one behind enter Joel Seward. Seward is one of the cleanest hitters to come through the Devon system and with Carroll in his current form it could have been carnage. Carroll was run out after putting on another 15 off six. His innings had lasted just 32 balls. Seward scored 25 off 10 and Eliot Acton 6 off 4 with Devon having scored at an acceptable 6.67 an over. The Isle of Wight took up the mantle but faced Eliot Acton in prime form. He picked up 6-22 just 2 runs off the best under 16 bowling performance by North Devon’s Martin Gear who took 6-20 against Warwickshire in 1993. The Island’s openers put on 45 when Acton entered the attack and took two wickets in his first over – catches by Lock and Carroll; third over he bowled Whitefield and finished his first spell with a wicket maiden and figures of 4-15 off 5. Chappell bowled Robinson, Seward broke Phelps wicket, Acton took two more and Ollie Robinson chipped in with two ending the Island’s innings at 128 off 36.1 overs. A good professional performance from all. Our 2005 home club Axminster were their splendid selves.

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