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PREMIER 2nd XI ROUND-UP

 

EXETER'S perfect record at the top of the Premier Division 2nd XI table continued when they thrashed newly promoted Budleigh Salterton by 75 runs.,

   Exeter have won every game they have finished this season and head the table by nine poins from Sidmouth, who were maximum points winners against Sandford.

   Rob Wass (36) and Chris Bostock gave Exeter a solid start, but a change from seam to spin reaped dividends for Budleigh as Jeremy Crooker nipped out both openers with the score on 78.

   Crooker (4-45) and Lloyd White kept the pressure on Exeter until youngster Will Steward went out to join Richard Nelsey at 102 for five

   Nelsey (67no) and Steward (30) took Exeter on to 176 with Nelsey still there in the final tally of 230 for seven.

   Budleigh started brightly – they were 36 for none thanks to Rob Newing (17) and Neil Murrin – then went into a steady decline to 70 for four then 90 for five when Murrin was dismissed for 41.

   Budleigh skipper Taylor, now out in the middle, looked at the scoreboard, felt that 140 to win from 25 overs with five wickets down was unreasonable and decided to go for a draw.

   Budleigh looked like getting the draw until Mark Hammett, who batted despite breaking a finger in the field, chipped a catch to mid-wicket, leaving Budleigh 123 for seven with 11 overs yet.

   The killer blow was when Taylor charged down the wicket and was stumped. The last two wickets went without a run added as Budleigh were all out for 155 with four overs to go.

   ‘I take full responsibility,” said a crestfallen Taylor. “I played a rash shot after doing the hard work, which should of given us a losing draw.

   “We could have had 10 points instead of six. These are games if we can't win then the aim is not to lose.”

  

   SIDMOUTH were too strong in every department for Sandford, who were sent packing by 110 runs.

   Veteran Graham Bess, enjoying a new career as a batsman after years toiling away with the ball, biffed a top score of 68 not out in Sidmouth's total of 243 for seven.

   Along the way there was a 60 stand unbroken for the last wicket with youngster Will Gater, who hit 29 off just 12 balls. Jamie Wardrop, now over a broken jaw, chipped in with 26.

   Sandford were in no real difficulties at 73 for two in reply with Mike Durrand (36) and super veteran Nigel Ashplant (24) making runs.

   Gater caped a fine, all-round peformance with four for 49 as Sandford collapsed to 133 all out. Charlie Dibble and Mark Jasper had two wickets each.

  

   SOUTH Devon skipper Dave Amery is hoping his side have turned the corner at last after they beat fellow strugglers North Devon by six wickets to move off the bottom of the table.

   Availability problems have played havoc with Amery's plans this season, meaning scraping around on a Saturday morning just to get a side out.

   With selection issues easing, Amery had options at his disposal against North Devon, and the worked a treat.

   Amery, Mark Toseland, Jonno Norrish and Ian Shepherd had two wickets each as North Devon were dismissed for 141.

   Bob Heaman (43) and Mark Overton (45) helped North Devon recover from 32 for three to 103 for four, but there was no saving them a second time.

   Adrian Hewings (47) and Paul Hooper (42) got the score up to 103, then Brian Allen (23no) and Neil Matthews (12no) wrapped up victory with time to spare.

   With one bound South Devon moved four places up the table, passing North Devon, Plymouth and Sandford on the way.

  

   ALSO on the up are Exmouth, who moved into third place when they saw off Plymouth by 54 runs.

   Exmouth stammered from 73 for two to 95 for six as Phil Barrow (4-52) and Steve Mattock (3-67) got stuck in. Skipper Stuart Rintoul's 35 was as good as it got up to then.

   A seventh wicket stand of 51 between Richard Arnold (53) and Chris Clarke (35) put Exmouth back on track and towards a total of 189 all out.

   The game got away from Plymouth during the time it took them to slump from 72 for two to 106 for seven as Clarke (4-32) and Matt Tarry (3-36) picked up wickets.

   Jake Libby (40) defied Exmouth for a while, but spinner Matt Coult (3-25) prised out to stragglers as Plymouth were all out for 135 with 13 balls to go.