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Exeter SJ v Plymstock

  

EXETER St James skipper Ryan Keary was prepared to shoulder the blame for his side's embarrassing nine-wicket defeat by visiting Plymstock.

   St James were always heading for defeat after being skittled out for 74. Keary decided it was a ‘bat-first' wicket – and had plenty of time to reflect on the wisdom of that decision as Denzil Addicott (5-28) Mike Cherry (3-8) bowled his side out in just 17 overs.

   South African Terry Bryrne top scored with 29 for the Topsham-based side.

   Plymstock had 61 overs in which to knock-off the runs and had 47 left in the time it took to get them.

   Nick Langridge (24no) and Addicott (22no), assisted by 24 extras, saw the game to a very early conclusion.

   “I took one look at the wicket and thought it was right to bat first – boy was I wrong,” said Keary.

   “I have to take responsibility for making the wrong decision and learn from it.”

   Plymstock captain Ian Whalley, while delighted by a winning start, didn't get too carried away by the result.

   “It's nice to get a positive start and all 20 points, but I suspect Brixham will be much harder proposition this Saturday,” said Whalley.

  

   Plymouth CS v Axminster

  

AXMINSTER started as they meant to go on in the B Division with a 71-run win away to potential strugglers Plymouth Civil Service.

   But it was a win that had to be earned by Axminster as gutsy Civil nearly hung on for a draw.

   Civil's cause didn't look too good when they were 163 for nine with eight overs to go in reply to Axminster's total of 265 for nine.

   Last pair Chris Newton and Dave Bennett put on a battling 31 and appeared to have done enough to salvage a draw.

   Then former Devon seamer Mark Richards, back in Axminster's side after a two-year lay-off due to injury, bowled Bennett and the game was up for Civil.

   Earlier, Phil Bayliss (31) and Neil Martin (43) had been among the runs for depleted Civil, who are struggling without long-term injury victim Dave Bayliss and the trio of players – Mike Zantiotis, Alex Trevarthan and Dan Rowbotham – who have moved to Plympton.

   Gary Larcombe (4-31), Richards (2-24) and Nick Taylor (2-38) were Axminster's most effective bowlers.

   Axminster's total was underpinned by two main partnerships, one of 93 for the fourth wicket between Steve Read (56) and David Murnane (45) and another of 65 between Joel Seaward (62) and Stuart Evans.

   Bayliss and Andy Hawker, up from the seconds while Civil grapple with their problems, claimed two wickets each with Newton (3-59) going one better.

   “A good, quick start was vital to act as a launchpad to help us bounce straight back into the A Division,” said new skipper Danny Larcombe.

   “We all feel the A Division is ‘where we belong' so to get a good win under our belts is a huge boost to everybody at the club.

   “With Mark (Richards) back it's like having a new signing. He missed the entire season last Summer with injury but he loves the game and is so, so important to our plans. I feel very confident about the season ahead.”

  

Barnstaple & Pilton v Alphington

 

AUSSIE new boy Steve Bowden signed with 80 on his Alphington debut but ended up on the losing side in a last-over finish at Barnstaple & Pilton.

   Bowden was the anchorman for the Alphas with Richard Cousens (42) helping him put on exactly 50 for the sixth wicket. Next best in the batting stakes was veteran Richard Coe with 25.

   James Palmer (2-42) and young spinner Henry McEndo0 (2-76) were the main wicket takers in Alphington's total of 217 for seven.

   Barnstaple won by four wickets, but it was anything but a stroll in the park for the North Devon outfit.

   Steve Hathaway (3-50), newly signed from Exeter St James, kept the runs down and picked up wickets as B&P laboured to 157 for six. Shaun Cole was the only batsman to hang around long.

   The game turned on a stand of 63 between Tom Popham (32no) and Lee Cole (32no) that got B&P home with four balls to spare.

  

Seaton v Bideford

  

RAUL East and Aaron Quartermaine both hit half centuries as Seaton put the disappointments of last season behind them with a thumping nine-wicket win over Bideford.

   Seaton were relegated out of the A Division last term and are keen to make their stay in the B Division as brief as possible.

   Spinner Dave Field picked up three wickets, two fell to Raul East and debutant Aaron Quartermaine took four as Bideford were bowled out for 171.

   Andrew Webb made a top score of 42 for Bideford, whose next best contributions came from Alex Hodges (29) and skipper James Ford (26).

   Quatermaine and East were backed up by an unbeaten 30 from Matt Hewer during the run chase.

  

Brixham v Clyst SG

  

CLYST St James skipper Steve May was delighted to come away with a losing draw from the trip to promotion favourites Brixham.

   Brixham have signed Pakistani spinner Aqeel Ahmed during the close season from Barton, where he took 351 wickets in six seasons.

   With the bulk of the side that finished third last season, it's hardly surprising Brixham were the pre-season favourites to take one of the promotion places.

   But Aqeel failed to weave his magic – he went for 51 claiming two wickets and was launched out of the ground by a belligerent May for six – as Clyst batted out time for a draw.

   “I think it is fair to say Brixham were a lot more disappointed by the result than we were,” said May.

   “We probably let them get away in the last few overs when they batted and were chasing more than we ought to have been.

   “But it was a pretty good effort by us against one of the stronger teams in our division.”

   Richard Ward (63) and Andy Pugh (49) top scored for Brixham in a total of 249 for seven.

   Chris Cook (3-40) and Jim Myton (3-64) had limited Brixham to 108 for four before Ward and George Northcott (36) put in 60 for the fifth wicket.

   The last seven overs proved a bit expensive for Clyst as Ward and Mark Orchard (21) added 70 in a hurry.

   Clyst were 83 for two and going well – Cook (54) and Duncan Chave (37) among the runs – but faded out of the game as they slowed to 113 for five.

   Gary Spencer, the former Barton left-arm spinner, took four for 29 to keep the pressure on and it was left to May (18no) and Myton to pat back the last three overs to earn a draw at 175 for nine.