We said our good byes to the Hazelwood, leaving a record amount behind, with Joe again eloquent. They are selling but we are still in with a chance for 2006 so Sam Smith decided we should come back again to the Island. Playing on our home ground at Shanklin against Somerset would decide the 2005 winners of the competition them or us! Robinson was still not right but sick note back in contention. Smith followed Carr and Wigley as incompetent tossers and we batted on another damp one. Chappell and Smith stated confidently and with style, something they do regularly but next season we will need much more and they put on 48 when Gary went for another GM big shot and found a fielder on the rope not for the first time in 2005. It would be perhaps fairer not to report on the rest, had they played four games in temperatures of 80+ there might have been an excuse but from two short of the 50 it became 129 all out with again the side failing to bat the 50. Indeed 27 balls were unused and they might have been vital as Somerset took 46 overs to reach their target.

Key player Wrench (2 sixes) played a diabolical shot to a full toss to get out, he along with Carroll and Boardman reached double figures. Smith had been third out for a 89 ball 25 and he and Boardman were out identically driving to be caught at backward point both victims of E.Lye who took 5-37. Benton was run out for the third time this year. SEEEEEEWARD proved a hit with the opposition but he did not repeat his fireworks of a previous encounter and considering that the strength of the side is its batting twice in a week not to bat the overs was a massive (Joe speak) disappointment.  It was obviously not easy but Somerset only lost three wickets getting there with Fear dropping anchor and scoring off 25 of his 133 balls. Keeper Todd, who had been a thorn the previous week, was snapped up at slip by Carroll, most on the ground could not believe it. Sick note did miss another one but provided he can loose his nick name over the next 10 months he could prove a massive benefit to side in two day cricket. That non catching bowler Chappell missed Campbell, just think how many wickets this fine left armer would have if he could catch off his own bowling. Hardy missed a stumping but on the third chance Hardy stumped Campbell off Chappell (1-28 off 15). The second wicket pairing had taken the side from 7 to 54 after 20 overs. Hardy’s influence on the side is large and he has kept and batted superbly this summer. The game and title went away from Devon with a third wicket partnership of 60 despite a fine spell from Scott Boardman who once he controlled his prodigious swing took 0-17 off 5 with 6 wides. Acton and Seward combined to remove Penn for 30 and the game was all over at four minutes past four.  

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