HEATHCOAT made their intentions clear for all to see with a thumping seven-wicket win over Plymouth.
Sidmouth’s opening day defeat by Paignton suggests the defending Premier champions are not invincible.
Heathcoat will go to North Devon this Saturday eager to make it two wins on the spin as they jostle with Bovey, Torquay, Paignton and Exmouth for the early leadership.
Jon Varcoe top scored with 75 not out in Plymouth’s total of 190 for eight – which Heathcoat knocked off with more than 15 of their 50 overs to spare.
Plymouth were 32 for four in the 17th over after a roughing up from Heathcoat seamers Matt Hague (2-40), J J Smit (2-28) and Jamie Drew (3-41).
Varcoe, nominally 2nd XI captain this season but likely to feature in the first team, was already in and there he stayed for two hours and 21 minutes.
A stand of 68 with Kerton (36) was broken when returning paceman Smit had Kerton caught behind.
Steve Luffman went cheaply – spun out by ex-Cornwood pro Jackson Thompson on his Heathcoat debut – but Hughes (25) and Varcoe nudged another 39 for the next wicket.
Drew returned at the end to winkle out Hughes and Stein with the aid of some nifty glovework by keeper Randerson.
Heathcoat made a brisk start, opener Thompson taking the lead with 22 mostly in boundaries of the first 32 on the board. He was caught chest high at mid-off having a go at Stein.
Reid Mawdsley, who took a ton off Plymouth last season when playing for Torquay, settled down for the duration after Thompson went, batting through for a match-winning 64 not out.
There were sizeable stands of 50 with Toby Lochead (34) and 74 with Sam Smith (45) as the target came down.
Although Fahad Fiaz (2-49) posed problems for Heathcoat, the visitors had time on their side.
Devon batsman Jack Dart (17no) was the other not-out batsman when the post was passed.
Happy Heathcoat skipper Randerson said: “It was a very satisfying day.
“We bowled well early and put a lot of pressure on Plymouth, who fought back well.
“Our batters then set about the task in hand very well.”
Plymouth skipper Sam Stein claimed the seven-wicket, first-day defeat by Heathcoat was a setback but not a disaster.
Stein said it was a below-par showing from the city side, but one that could easily be improved on.
“We didn't apply ourselves with the bat,” said Stein.
“Jon Varcoe showed us how to do it, and Hal Kerton and Tom Hughes batted well to get us to 190, but we need more from our other senior batsmen.
“Heathcoat batted well but we didn't make it very difficult for them.
“It's only the first game so lots to learn from it and most things are easily fixed.”
