DEVON League bosses look like being called in to arbitrate on a dispute between Sidmouth and Plympton after the top of the table 2nd XI Premier Division clash on the Fortfield was called off due to the state of the pitch.
Sidmouth had reached 37 for four when home captain Graham Bess, worried about the way the ball was jumping off the pitch, called his batsmen in.
The two teams were first and second in the table going into the game, although Sidmouth dropped down to third afterwards as Exeter steamed past them thanks to their win over Barton.
Sidmouth appear happy to accept six points for an abandonment, but Plympton see it otherwise.
Both clubs are saving their full version of events for the inevitable league hearing into the dispute, but it's clear positions are being dug in already.
The top half inch of a well-prepared and rolled wicket appears to have got wet and the ball was popping off a length,” said Sidmouth secretary Mike Dibble.
“The game got was called off as both captains agreed it was dangerous.”
Plympton feel they were denied the chance to compete for the full 20 points available, points they wanted in their bid to win the division for a second year running.
“We feel we were not given the opportunity to play a game of cricket to a conclusion,” said Plympton chairman John Yeoman.
“The matter is now in the hands of the Devon Cricket League and we await the outcome.”
Exeter capitalised on the lack of action at Sidmouth to move into second place with a thumping 10-wicket win over Barton on the County Ground.
Christian Bostock was the man of the moment for Exeter as he took five for 12, including a hat-trick with his last three balls, to bowl Barton out for 76.
Barton's top scorer Mike Lievesley (17) was the first of Bostock's hat-trick victims.
Exeter had 70 overs to knock off the runs and only needed 19 of them. Rob Wass (48no) and Shaun Langford (24no) did the job on their own.
Former Devon captain Nick Folland made one of his increasingly rare appearances for Exmouth in the game away to South Devon – and watched admiringly as one of the next generation hogged the limelight.
Exmouth were in all sorts of trouble at 15 for five when Folland came in – and 46 for six didn't represent much of an improvement.
Mike Smith, unable to travel with the South Devon first team to Tavistock, had more than helped out the 2 nd XI by taking five for 63 to put Exmouth on the rack.
But youngster Miles Lenygon was made of sterner stuff and with Devon's record-breaking batsman at the other end went on to complete a maiden league century.
Folland (43) went at 146 for seven, ending a stand of 110, but Lenygon went on to make 103 not out in an Exmouth total of 236 for eight. Jack Sargeant chipped in with 24.
South Devon lost opener Matt Blackmore cheaply, but seemed to be heading in the right direction with Dave Baldock making 40 and Matt Parsons 59. At 111 for four the wheels fell off.
South Devon wickets tumbled to Michael Collinge (3-50) and J J Debenham (3-12). Last pair Ryan Maunder and Dan Ball blocked out the final nine overs to earn a draw at 166 for nine.
Skipper Brian Leach top scored with 68 to help Sandford to a three-wicket win over ailing Paignton.
Scott Baldry responded to being left out of Paignton's first team by taking the Sandford attack for 68 in a total of 176 for eight. Neil Collings chipped in with 23. Shane Evenden (5-35) was easily the pick of the Sandford bowlers.
New Paignton captain Chris Smith made Sandford work for their runs with a five-for-47 haul.
Veteran Brent Howard made 35, but it was Leach's stand of 74 with Paul Smith (25) that proved decisive on the chase.
Plymouth kept Sidmouth in sight at the top of the table with a workmanlike seven-wicket win over visiting North Devon.
North Devon's total of 177 four was almost entirely constructed around a partnership worth 121 for the third wicket between Bob Heaman (83no) and James Starkey.
Starkey rode his luck at times and Plymouth seamer Phil Barrow (2-49) was frustrated to see the North Devon batsman dropped twice off successive balls.
Dave Watson (25) and Phil Stevenson (20) gave Plymouth a 49-run start. From 66 for three there were no further losses as Harry Stevenson (55no) and Andy Ware (61no) saw Plymouth home with a stand of 112.
Three Strevensons played together for the first time in the league in this match – dad Phil and sons Harry and George.