Unusually, but for the sake of fairness to the players (fairness!!) we will get the excuses out of the way first before the actual facts – sixty hard hours on the road, 500.1 miles, an intensive top of the table clash for some; add in a last ball thriller the night before for the 15s at Exmouth and the excitement of getting through to another national final for others so Friday August 10th 2007 was perhaps one of the better days to catch the sixteen’s. Having written that the Isle of Wight put on an outstanding performance of confidence and unity and ran the home side very close in a game decided in the last over with ten runs separating the teams. We were now being spoilt as for the second game the sun was shining this time on entering Cloakham Lawn with Axminster's fine new ground looking pristine and confidence was high. Fortunately for the first time this summer there were no traffic delays for players or management. At last the pressure could be taken off the players as the make up of the Isle of Wight squad was finalised before the game. It was particularly good to watch Rob Shergold relax and subsequently play with greater freedom. Luke Bess won the toss and within three balls Devon were 0-2 as exaggerated inswing took out two batsmen who over the previous two days had faced 257 balls in scoring 152, not promising, it got worse 9-3 with Gordon picking up his third wicket in removing Matt Thompson. Fortunately Chris Metters and Shane Evenden put on the highest partnership of the game taking their side up to 97 when Evenden was caught off last year’s tormentor Franklin for an enterprising 43. He batted just 56 minutes facing 49 balls. The under 15s Matt Hickey and Will Gater helped Metters take the score up to 152, Hickey went looking for a big shot and Gater completing a personal double at Axminster by walking past another one to be stumped for a second time. Shergold, now free of the pressure of selection revealed what an asset he will be on the Island putting on a further 63 with Metters. The South Devon all rounder was now past 50 (88 balls and minutes) and confirming what a fine batter he is. At a now more comfortable 215 with twenty balls left Metters missed a straight one on 98!!! He claimed it was the best ball of the innings, but he would do would he not. He had been superb and really did deserve to be our first centurion at three age groups this summer. However for the third player in two days he was not to reach a major personal milestone. His performance had shown great maturity, he batted 157 minutes faced 142 balls hit 13 fours and 2 sixes one over the pavilion – outstanding. Shergold was still playing a key role as he watched Cross, in his last county match of the season, follow Gater’s example and Dent block the final over, fortunately he did get down to the business end smote a six and went in to a deserved ovation undefeated on 36. Extras had contributed 32 and Devon was exceedingly relieved to reach 238-8.

The Isle of Wight openers entered the fray with confidence and real self belief, a new trait for this cricket fanatical island.  They put on 36 in eight overs when Thompson again dived full length to take another fine catch, this time of Evenden. In strode Mitchell, well strode is a slight exaggeration as he needed Hatt to remain at the wicket to run for him as the coach offered the profound statement that a runner should provide mayhem. Wrong again Ports eighty-five were added without any difficulty which was disconcerting as Bess rang the changes. At the halfway stage the Island were very comfortably placed at 120-1, with the home side not helping their own chances by dropping six reasonable chances. That dark day at Exmouth in 2003 came firmly into clear focus when the Island inflicted their one victory  at this level. Fortunately one run later Tom Cross trapped the excellent Barton in front five short of the fifty and six runs later the second key wicket was taken, With Metters now demonstrating his left arm spin, now a necessity with the loss of Cross, the splendid Mitchell, who had been hitting superbly through the ball went after him, only to find the safe but large hands of Big Dave at long on, a vital and not easy catch by Evenden. At 131 for the second time in a week, Thompson chose the right end to throw to and hands that the keeper himself would have been proud of did the business at the bowlers end - Tom Cross is a huge and unexpected loss for the Festival. He is a real team player, has outstanding hands, brilliant in the field and a bowler who gives control. The Navy’s gain is our gigantic loss. The tide had turned, nine runs later Cross bowled Lewis, fifty-one were added for the sixth but the overs were now ticking away. Captain and keeper Woodhouse also did not make the half hundred as Metters returned the complement to Evenden. It was now just a matter of nerve, at 202 Bess gave Evenden his third wicket and Dent took his first when he knocked back Gordon’s centre stump to the pleasure of Bess, Smith and Thompson who he had sorted out in the first session. Dent bowled well in his ten overs going for 3.7 and Carr bowled the critical forty-ninth over conceding just three. Nineteen required off the last and eight were taken. Counting chickens etc came into the mind but as Jack so rightly summed up the side did exceptional well to get back into the game on more than one occasion. He then somehow contrived to ensure his team won the football.