THORVERTON were frustrated by the weather at Tavistock where the game was called of just as it was getting interesting.

Dave Manning blasted away for an unbeaten 120 as Tavvy racked up 278 for six in 45 overs.

Thorverton were 97 for three when rain stopped play in the 18th over.

The teams had already been off once for rain and Thors’ target reduced to 174 in 28 overs.

Alan Tait (32) and Alex Hills (28) were the main run getters for Thorverton before the weather closed in a second time.

Devon League rules say a second innings has to last at least 20 overs for a run-rate result to count. As this one didn’t go the distance it goes down as an abandonment.

Skipper Andy Pitt came away from the Ring feeling a little hard done by.

“We had been up with the run rate most of the way but the rain came back and three overs before it could count as a game,” said Pitt.

Pitt said the game highlighted some of Thorverton’s strong points and also weaknesses that have to be addressed before the season gets much older.

“Our batsmen applied themselves well in rather wet and dark conditions,” said Pitt.

“Manning scored a good hundred for Tavistock, but it is hard to pull out too many positives from that part of our game.

“We bowled pretty poorly again and any bad ball was punished. We made it too easy for their batsman to score the runs they got.

“The challenge for our bowlers against Seaton this week is to cut out the four balls, otherwise we will be chasing big targets most weeks.”

Shaun Daymond, the Tavistock captain, said: “After Dave made a century we were in a strong position before it started to rain.

“Even after the target came down we were confident with the bowling we had they wouldn’t get past us.

“We took maximum batting points so it wasn’t a total waste of time, but it was disappointing not to finish it off.”

Tavvy lost opener Dave Ball in the first over and were 51 for two when Ian Gray (26) was bowled by Jake Broom.

Billy Barriball (33) was at the other end while Manning warmed up, leaving him at 87 for three.

From then on it was the Dave Manning show as he dominated stands of 59 with Aaron Churchill (17) and 101 with Dylan Aucamp (42).

When the overs ran out Manning had hit 17 fours and a six. Daymond was the other not-out batter on 23.

Thorverton used eight bowlers looking for breakthroughs, all with limited success.