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PREMIER DIVISION

JAMES Pickard administered six of the as Sidmouth bounced back from their defeat at Plympton with a spanking 147-run win over Sandford .

   Sidmouth posted a useful 231 for six in their 50 overs with James Macey firing a top score of 91. Macey, who faced 116 balls, hit 52 in boundaries and shared in a key stand of 90 with skipper Saj Patidar (36).

   There was no hint of the carnage to come as Sandford reached 52 for two in reply, Scott Boardman making 21, then it all went horribly wrong.

    Pickard reduced Sandord to 67 for nine almost on his own with a six-for-39 haul, then Charlie Dibble (2-14) finished them off as they were bowled out in the 27 th over for 84.

   That win lifts Sidmouth within a point of second-placed South Devon , who se early season form continued with a tough four-wicket win over Plymouth in a low-scoring game at Marsh Road.

   Matt Smith (28) and Shaun Mattick (21) were the only Plymouth batsmen to make worthwhile contributions as they laboured from 56 for four to 65 for six and on to 131 all out.

   Adam Richards (4-23) picked up where he left off in the win over Paignton two weeks earlier – South Devon were rained off against Exmouth last Saturday – and there were two wickets each for Dave Amery and South African Devon Melville.

   Melville, a Newton Abbot rugby player, has hooked up with South Devon during the ‘close' season and looks a useful acquisition.

   South Devon didn't find runs easy to come by either   - especially after losing opener Brian Allen first ball – but a steady knock of 60 not out by Henry Burningham took South Devon up to 122 for three and within sight of victory.

   Paul Butson (3-4) only delayed the inevitable as far as Plymouth were concerned as skipper Amery joined Burningham   to polish off the last few runs needed.

   Plympton's lead at the top was trimmed to eight points as they could only manage to draw with Barton in a game notable for the huge number of extras the leaders bowled – 80, including 55 wides.

   Neil Tremayne (21) and Dave Walter put on 55 for Plympton's second wicket with Walter going on to make a to score of 70 in the total of 212 for seven. Lee Mundell weighed in with 26 and David Wrench hit 22.

   Spinner Tom Field, a recent   Barton capture from Stoke Gabriel, claimed four for 53.

   With all those extras being gifted their way, the bulk of Barton's reply of 158 for nine didn't come off the bat at all!

   Two wickets each for Craig Donohue, Rob Coles, Matt Gregory and Rob Skinner, helped   slow Barton to 102 for seven.

   Matt Hill, one of five U15 colts in the Barton side, made 26 not out as the draw was salvaged   on 158 for nine following   seven overs of blocking at the end.

   A maiden league century by Shane Langford helped set-up Exeter for a 128-run win over North Devon.

   Langford (102no) and Robin Wass (43) pointed the way ahead for Exeter with a stand of 104 then James Yeo (53) helped the score along to an eventual 253 for three declared with eight overs to go.

   Christian Bostock hammered out a case for a first-team recall with three for 29 as North Devon were skittled out for 125 in reply.

   Former Dorset Minor Counties captain Stuart Rintoul hammered an unbeaten century as Exmouth IIs cruised to an eight-wicket win over visiting Paignton .

   Paignton's total of 222 for eight – Mark Smith (51), Scott Baldry (46) and Martin Swannell (37) was made to look well below par as Exmouth knocked it off with 11 overs in hand.

   Rintoul, who was dropped twice, put on 112 for openers with Adam Buzza (66) and finished the job with a stand of 102 unbroken with Billy Buckingham (38no).