Back

A DIVISION

SHOBROOKE Park have lost the leadership of the A Division 2 nd XI competition after losing the 20 points awarded when Exeter St James cried off against them in the latest round of fixtures.

   St James pulled out of the Devon League altogether yesterday so all points awarded for games they have been involved in have been wiped from the record.

   That means the new leaders are Torquay , who had girl power to thank in part for their seven-wicket win away to previously unbeaten Budeigh Salterton.

   Budleigh were dismissed for 150 – a better total than the one that looked likely when they were 52 for seven after a going over from lady cricketer Eleanor Fielding, who took four for 24, and Will Bennett (3-26).

   A stand of 67 between Mark Hammett (51) and Max Ewing gave Budleigh something to defend, and the consolation of a third batting point, although with 54 overs to make the runs Torquay were always favourites.

   Will Sear top scored with 50 and Matt Thompson hit 41 in the 51 overs Torquay needed to make the runs. James Burton (2-25) picked up a couple of wickets with his leg-spinners for Budleigh.

   Disappointed Budleigh captain Ian Taylor said: “ I couldn't fault our bowlers, who worked hard looking for a breakthough.

   “It took Torquay 51 overs to get 150 so, if we hadn't given them extra overs or had got an extra 25 runs things may of been different.

   “Some of our batsmen need to value their wickets a little more. We will take the positives though and start afresh at Cornwood this Saturday.”

    Seaton II were victorious in their opening game of the campaign, their first for a   season and a half, but has been followed by back-to back defeats, the latest a six-wicket reversal at the hands of visiting Bovey Tracey II .

   Jeremy Parr (53) and Simon Newton (48) helped Bovey to 220 four. Ben Morgan (2-22) claimed a couple of wickets for Seaton..

   When Seaton were 12 for four in reply it looked odds on a quick “kill” for the visitors. Matt Hancock struck a fine unbeaten 41 and first team skipper, Mark Jenkins, who couldn't travel to Brixham, hit 32 in an all-out total of 119.

   Pick of the Bovey bowlers were the evergreen Colin Shute (4-44) and Nathan Elphick with four for 25.

   Axminster went down by five wickets at Abbotskerswell . Tristan Wakeley top scored with 38, Ashley Guppy hit 31, but the ball was on top for much of the Axminster innings as three wickets fell to Sean Green (3-40) and Gary Day (3-26) in a total of 155 all out.

   Extras provided the largest contribution when Abbots batted - three more than the best with the bat, that being the 29 from Andy Lock. Damien Scarr and Hayden Crocker both made 24, Wakeley (2-34) claimed a couple of the wickets for Axminster.

   Sidmouth 3 rd XI put their patchy start to the season behind them with a seven-wicket win over visiting Cornwood .

   Opener Scott Mansfield carried his throughout the Cornwood innings for 119 not out in a total of 185 all out

   The star of the Sidmouth bowling show was medium pacer Bruce Robson who was introduced to the attack as first change and took career-best return of seven for 71. Miles Dalton (2-55) mopped up the stragglers.

   Sidmouth's run chase was led by Sean Priestley, who came at second wicket down and hit 69. The two not out batsmen at the close were Dalton (45) and Tom Overthrow (20). Chris Anderson (2-44) picked up two of the three wickets to fall Cornwood.