DIVISION
ONE
WEEK
five of the North Devon Holiday Homes League saw the
current champions beaten for the second time this early
season, a recent champion side once again having to
call off a top-flight game and Filleigh winning three
league games over the same weekend for the first time
in the Clubs history!
Two
years after being crowned champions of the North Devon
League there are very real fears that North Molton may
not be able to continue this season in the First Division
after they called off a game for the second time this
season citing an inability to raise a side. They were
scheduled to play at Bideford but, as they did the previous
week against Lynton & Lynmouth they once again were
forced to concede the game although the Club's 2nd XI
were able to fulfill a Division Five game the day before.
Newton Tracey won the First Division last season after
coming into the top flight as Division Two Champions
but Sundays second defeat in two outings this early
season leave them with plenty to do to retain their
crown. Ironically Sundays defeat came at another side
playing at the top level after winning the Div Two crown,
Bradninch and they have put down a bug ‘marker' as to
their aspirations with a second successive win.
The mid-Devon side were restricted to 171 in which Tim
Piper top scored with 52, Ryan Butterworth hit 35 and
skipper Gary Chappell chipped in with 20, Newton Tracey's
reply closed on 153-8 despite an excellent 67 from Simon
Gear but only Andy Chatham (29) stuck around as Ross
Acton (3-20) and Butterworth (2-24) made sure the Keynsham
Park side's winning start to the campaign continued.
The ‘top story' of the weekend was the achievement at
Filleigh Cricket Club where the 1st, 2nd and 3rd XI's
all won and this is the first time in the Clubs history
that they have fielded three sides over a weekend in
League cricket and each one has claimed a victory.
The senior side won by four wickets at Beaford. Nick
Dartnol marked his debut with a couple of wickets and
Will Palmer also bagged a brace as the home side were
restricted to 131-6, Mark Lane top scoring with an unbeaten
29, the only other batsmen to reach the twenty mark
were Mark Heal (27), Geoff Lake (23) and Michael Wigley
(20). Mark Prideaux (40) and Godfrey Tucker (30) led
the successful run chase, which was completed at 133-6,
Wigley completing a fine all-round effort for the hosts
with 4-42, whilst Lake took 2-24.
DIVISION
TWO
FILLEIGH
II picked up their first win of the Division Two campaign
at the fourth attempt with a four-wicket success at
home to Westleigh.
Batting
first the visitors were held to 149-7, Richard Pearson
(38) and James Tythcott (30) the only batsmen to get
to grips with the conditions and some fine bowling.
Baljit Kalsi took 3-19 in nine overs whilst both Mike
Prideaux and Colin Roberts each picked up two wickets
for the home side who won the game on 150-6 with Ross
Denning (51) and Rob Collier (50) combining to add 90
for the 4th wicket to guide their side to victory. Richard
Pearson had a four-wicket haul to add to his earlier
top score for the losers.
The other game played in this section saw Hatherleigh
stroll to a 148 run win over an Ilfracombe side who
were losing for the second time in two early season
outings. This game produced a magnificent 177 run 3rd
wicket partnership between an Uncle and Nephew combination.
The ‘senior' partner at the crease Terrence Henry-Reynolds
hit 100 whilst his Nephew Garfield Tidball struck 105,
Stefan Doidge chipped in with 33 and the home innings
closed on 274-6 which was far too many for the visitors
who this time last year were playing in the top flight.
Only Jason Matthews got amongst the runs with 48, Richard
Tidball bagged a ‘fivefer' returning superb figures
of 5-17 in an eight over spell and Robert Cockwill was
also amongst the wickets with 3-46.
DIVISION
THREE
THERE
was a low-scoring affair at Holsworthy where visitors
Morebath left with a 55 run win having batted first
and been bowled out for 140.
Steve
Kelland top scored with 32, three wickets for Andrew
Butler and a couple for Steve Drew but the home innings
was al over on 95, Drew completed a fine all-round effort
with the top score of 27, Ian Mill was the ‘best of
the rest' with 16.
North Devon II went down by four wickets in a close
encounter with visiting Sandford. The Instow men were
restricted to 159-9 in which James Starkey (43), Stuart
Rhodes (34) and Dan Pickard (24) were the top scorers
but, despite more wickets for Ricky Kelly who claimed
3-35, the Mid Devon side reached victory with four wickets
to spare.
The Mid Devon derby at Cheriton Fitzpaine where Incorrigibles
were the victors produced 466 runs. Batting first the
visitors closed on 251 thanks to half centuries from
Matthew Weeks (69), Henry Haydon (52) and James Hope
(51) and then Les Rendall was the main wicket taker
as Cheriton Fitzpaines innings closed on 215 with an
over of their 45 remaining. Stuart Cole of Incorrigibles
said: " It was a cracking game, in the balance
for much of their reply but we managed to keep taking
wickets at vital times".
DIVISION
FOUR
BIDEFORD
II won for the second time in three Division Four outings
with a 110-run victory at Kelseymen where Alan Widdicombe
was in imperious form striking an unbeaten 132.
Widdicombe was given great support by Daren Hart who
was run out for 81 and the next best score was that
of Alex Wood (21) and he to was dismissed by being run
out!
Bideford were able to declare after 39 overs on (4-14)
and Dave Wilde (1-6 in nine overs) did the damage but
there were a couple of very promising spells from teenagers
Branton Palin and Connor Constable for the home side.
The other Division Four game saw Shebbear stroll to
victory at home to 267-3 and then Wood (3-18), Tom Farnell
(2-29) and Josh King (2-50) combined to bowl out the
hosts for 157.
Lynton & Lynmouth II got their season off to a winning
start in a low scoring game at their headquarters. The
hosts batted first and were bowled out for 123 with
only John Cranscombe amongst the runs with an unbeaten
29, but that meagre total was more than enough to win
the game as the home bowlers produced excellent line
and length to dismiss Bishops Nympton for 94. Pete Druce
Newton Tracey II, winning by ten wickets after shooting
out the visitors for just 70.
DIVISION
FIVE
FILLEIGH
III bowled out North Molton for just 60 thanks to Mark
Davies (2-9) and Gavin Belcher (2-6), Davies then hit
an unbeaten 16 as he and Ross Denning (34) saw the side
to a comprehensive six-wicket win.
Barnstaple & Pilton III bounced back from the previous
weeks defeat at Filleigh III to see off Black Torrington
who were shot out for 56 facing the Barum offering of
122.
