On a glorious day the Development team arrived at Bovey Tracey Cricket Club in an important week for the team who were due to play Dorset in the decider of the Southern Counties U21 competition two days later. The overseas side won the toss and with some hesitation (having had there top order ripped out by a Craig Miles hat-trick and been comprehensively beaten the previous year) elected to bat.  Their fears were confirmed when Bideford and Devon U17 Tom Allin bowled a superb spell of 1-5 off six well assisted by fellow new ball bowler Adam Parker. The ball had been doing plenty which had left the opposition reeling at 27-3 including the loss of there star batter, Cornwood’s, Salman. It could have been worse as a ball was hit at some pace to the right of Jack Porter who swooped, picked up cleanly and throw down the stumps – it was certainly close but would have needed a television replay. This added to a remarkable catch by Barton captain Aaron Williams provided an example of how well this young team fielded giving a superb exhibition with keeper Manning taking two cathes and stumpings and not conceeding a bye. However it was another Bideford player, South African, Rasool who steadied the ship holding the innings together with patient and well-comprised 51 off 82 balls.  His innings allowed the later batters to go after the bowling at the death and despite almost all the Devon bowlers bowling reasonable spells the question was on today’s wicket would 177 be too many to chase? Devon was left feeling that perhaps they had eased off the throttle to ensure they created a spectacle for the crowd. How wrong this would prove to be!

A wonderful tea brought about a comment from Allin, the only Devon bowler that really hits the deck, that registered slight concern with the Devon team - when congratulated on his bowling he modestly suggested that he was just bowling “good areas and the ball did the rest”…Interesting - lets see how Devon bat against a faster, taller opening attack. Their innings began in fine fashion when the Barton pairing Williams and Nick Watkin got off to an excellent start but after playing some superb shots and looking in good form Williams thought he was faster than he actually is and was run out, by a throw from the boundary, going for a second . Once the wickets started they fell like dominoes as a fired up Stephenson 6-30 and a disciplined Sutherland 3-20 blasted through the top order. Toms nicked one behind, Watkin was trapped leg before, Gibson was caught at short leg, Larcombe, Parker and Murray were all caught behind and after 22 balls resistance the experienced David Manning was bowled. Only the home sides captain Chris Bradley used local knowledge to deal with the ball darting around and in the end Devon were bowled out for a woeful 69, not good preparation for Wednesday crucial U21 match.                  Next