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NORTH
DEVON CRICKET LEAGUE - WEEK FOUR
DIVISION
ONE
BIDEFORD
finished third in the First Division last season, losing
just three games but they lost their opening game this
term, going down by seven wickets to last year's Division
Two Champions Bradninch.
Batting first only Matt Allin (37) could stick
around long enough to build a score as wickets fell
at regular intervals before it closed on just 91 and
that was not enough to trouble the mid-Devon visitors
who lost just three wickets chasing down the total,
Chris Luxton, Alex Hodges and Michael Warne taking a
wicket each.
Bideford's Matt Allin said: “ We didn't bat well on
what was a track that had plenty to offer the bowlers,
it seamed around a lot, but they (Bradninch) look a
decent side and should do well this year in this division
with that side.”
There was no action on either Saturday or Sunday for
North Molton. Their Saturday game against Lynton &
Lynmouth wasn't played owing to being unable to raise
a side and the following day a soggy wicket put paid
to the game with Sandford.
There was a thrilling game at Instow where Newton Tracey,
last year's champions, went into the last three overs
with their final pair at the wicket and six runs needed
for victory in a low-scoring game but the home side
held their nerve to claim the points.
Dave Tribe top scored for the hosts with 67, his innings
being ended with a run out. Warren Miller, who was at
the other end when Tribe lost his wicket, went on to
score an unbeaten 20 and that is also the score made
by Martin Gear. Phil Steward was the pick of the Newton
Tracey attack with 2-21 and then he led the run chase
with a superb half century but it was hit wicket near
the end that effectively ended the champions' bid to
claim a winning start. Steward was out for 51, Bill
Sobey (23) and Richard Screech (20) gave good support
but the innings close on 150 with two wickets falling
to Matt Dark, Stuart Rhodes, Matt Westaway and Colin
Payne.
DIVISION
TWO
THERE
was a double header of success of Braunton who have
already played a third of their season's fixtures before
many other sides have even got their campaigns under
way!
A Saturday win by four wickets in a low-scoring
affair at Ilfracombe was followed with a Sunday success
at home to Victoria Park, who were beaten by 22 runs.
Young Harry Brooker top scored with 18 in the win at
Ilfracombe, this after the Braunton bowlers had shared
the wicket taking to dismiss the hosts for just 71.
The following day wicket keeper Wayne Manning top scored
with 71 as Braunton closed on 190, Johnny Higgs getting
23 and Steve Oliver claiming 5-25 in five splendid overs
for Victoria Park who could only reply with 168 in which
Colin Bettis top scored with 31, two more than son Neil
whilst Andy Paddison and Mark Mitchell both took three
wickets.
The three-wicket haul for Mitchell did not excuse him
from collecting the sides team money though, that ‘privilege'
went to him after his ‘duck' with the bat!.
The Filleigh II meeting with Heathcoat was cancelled
owing to a wet pitch.
DIVISION
THREE
CHERITON
Fitzpaine took an instant liking to life at a higher
level. Last year's Division Four runners up beat visiting
North Devon II by 58 runs and it was very much a ‘family
affair' that led them to the win.
After Mike Foan went third ball for an early season
‘duck', Phil Cutler stuck around almost the full innings,
finally out a single blow short of a century, Jeremy
Tricks hit an unbeaten 46 and the innings closed on
180-5.
When the visitors batted, it was 14 year old Jim Cutler,
son of near centurion Phil who took an impressive 3-9
whilst Dave Carr atoned for his earlier ‘duck' with
the bat taking 2-28 and there were also a couple of
wickets for Robbie Keight.
Shobrooke Park made a fine start to their Division Three
campaign with a 23 run win in a thrilling encounter
at Bratton Fleming. Rob Newall cracked a magnificent
century and Ben Trenaman chipped in with 39 taking the
side to a close of 241-7 and then Trenamen took 3-42
as the home sides fine attempt at the run chase ended
at 218-8.
A magnificent unbeaten 120 from Dan Pickard led North
Devon II to a four-wicket win over hosts Sandford II.
The Creedy park side posted a competent 229-8, Peter
Steer (77) and Brian Leach (48) leading the run getting,
Pickard picking up two wickets and then he led the run
chase with his super century, the next best score being
‘extras' with 39, Steve Morrish was the pick of the
home bowlers with 3-38.
DIVISION
FOUR
JUST
the one game in Division Four at the weekend this at
Bude where the home side scored 197 led by Aussie Joel
Ambrey (60), Matt Mansbridge helped out with 25 and
then Ashley Hockin claimed 3-6 as Bideford II were bowled
out for 164.
DIVISION
FIVE
BARNSTAPLE
& Pilton were put to the sword by Filleigh III who
claimed a ten-wicket win. James Popplwell
with four wickets and Simon Prosser with three helped
knock thje visitors over for just 56 and then Josh Singh
and John Bawden led their side to a ten wicket win.
Halberton began life in Division Five with a healthy
win at Bradninch II where they scored 253-8 and then
bowled out the hosts for 193. After early runs from
skipper Dan Coles (34) it was a 146 run partnership
for the third wicket between Dave Gollop (83) and Paul
Tidborough (76) that steered Halberton to their impressive
offering. Andrew Birt-Mitchell was the pick of the home
bowling with 3-27 and he then scored 22, Rob Gitshum
hit 25 and Billy Wakeley top scored with a splendid
66 but Will Austin with 4-46 and Fred Harding 3-25 ensured
that last year's Division Six runners up got off to
a winning start.
WEEK
FOUR RESULTS
Saturday Matches
Division
One
North Molton versus Lynton & Lynmouth - match not
played North Molton unable to raise a side.
Division
Two:
Ilfracombe 71, Braunton 72-6. Braunton (20pts)
bt Ilfracombe (6) by 4 wkts.
Division
Three
Sandford II 229-8 (P Steer
77, B Leach 48; D Pickard 2-33), North Devon II 230-6
(D Pickard 120no; S Morrish 3-38). North Devon II (20pts)
bt Sandford II (6) by 4 wkts.
Division
Five
Barnstaple & Pilton
III 56, (J Popplewell 4-18, J Prosser 3-20), Filleigh
III 57-0. Filleigh III (20pts) bt Barnstaple & Pilton
III (0) by 10 wkts.
Sunday Matches
Division
One:
Bideford 91 (M Allin 37: P Chappel 3-19, R Acton 3-19),
Bradninch 93-3 (G Chappell 47no). Bradninch (20pts)
bt Bideford (3) by 7 wkts.
North Devon 154-6 (D Tribe
67, W Miller 20no, M Gear 20; P Steward 2-21),
Newton Tracey 150 (P Steward 51, B Sobey 23,
R Screech 20; S Rhodes 2-18, C Payne 2-20, M Westaway
2-20, M Dart 2-40). North Devon (20pts) bt Newton Tracey
(10) by 4 runs.
North Molton versus Sandford. Match Cancelled waterlogged
pitch.
Division
Two
Braunton 190-9 (W
Manning 71, J Higgs 23; S Oliver 5-25), Victoria Park
168 (c Bettis 31, N Bettis 29; A Paddison 3-14, M Mitchell
3-25). Braunton (20pts) bt Victoria Park (8) by 22 runs.
Filleigh II versus Hatherleigh. Match cancelled
waterlogged pitch.
Division
Three
Barnstaple & Pilton II
versus Holsworthy. Match cancelled waterlogged
pitch
Shobrooke Park 241-7 (R Newall 102, B Trenaman 39; T
Batson 2-46, P Simmons 2-51), Bratton Fleming II
218-8 (G Barrow 70, B Ayre 34, M Southcott 32, S Ayre
32; B Trenaman 3-42). Shobrooke Park (20pts)
bt Bratton Fleming II (10) by 23 runs.
Cheriton Fitzpaine 180-5 (P Cutler 96, J Tricks 46no;
R Kelly 2-21, J Wainwright 2-40), North Devon
122 (C Welch 47; J Cutler 3-9, R Keight 2-22, D Carr
2-28). Cheriton Fitzpaine (20pts) bt
North Devon II (4) by 58 runs.
Division
Four
Bude 197 (J Ambrey 60, M
Mansbridge 25), Bideford II 164 (A Hockin 3-6). Bude
(20pts) bt Bideford II (8) by 33 runs.
Halberton 253-8 (D Gollop 83, RP Tidborough 76, D Coles
34, J Turner 18; A Birt-Mitchell 3-27), Bradninch II
193 (B Wakeley 66, R Gitshum 25, A Birt-Mitchell 22;
W Austin 4-46, F Harding 3-27). Halberton (20pts) bt
Bradninch II (6) by 60 runs.
