OTTERY St Mary had something to celebrate after they crept home by two wickets against Exeter II.
It was Ottery’s first win since the 2016 season and ended a run of defeats that ended in relegation from the B Division in September last year.
James Bovey (75) and Callum Hogan (24) were Exeter’s prime run getters in a total of 173 for nine.
Ottery’s Ollie West (3-24) and Rob Johns (2-32) posed problems with the ball then Sam Brook (4-19) skittled the tail.
West (45) and Alex Clements (31), pointed Ottery in the right direction, Bovey (4-20) and Harry Conway (2-27) slowed the chase, which left Jack Maiden (47no) to tidy up the loose ends.
MIKE Cliff played a staring role for Clyst Hydon in their eight run win over Budleigh Salterton II.
Cliff top scored for Hydon with 64 in 45-over total of 218 for seven.
Opener and captain Ian Sutton (50) was involved in stands worth 123 before he was fourth out, then Cliff came in and helped add another 83.
Budleigh found wickets hard to come by, although James England and Adam Jones picked up a couple. Ed Doble bowled nine overs for 31 runs.
Budleigh set off in hot pursuit, helped on their way by a stand of 72 between openers Doble and Steve Booth (40).
When Doble was fifth out at 167 for five, and with wickets in hand and James England (37no) getting settled, Budleigh looked the narrow favourites.
It all came down to the final over from Cliff with Budleigh needing 10 to win. They only got one.
Hydon face more 2nd XI opposition this Saturday when they travel to Sidmouth.
BRAUNTON defeated Kilmington by 81 runs in the first game of the season at Kelsey.
Braunton batted first and were denied maximum batting points when they were bowled out for 197.
Kilmington had Braunton reeling at 89 for eight after a gong over from new boys Matt Pile and Ollie Reed. Jon Baglow’s 26 at the top had been as good as it got for Braunton up to then.
Ninth-wicket pair Mark Mitchell (42) and skipper Dan Brierley stopped the rot with a stand of 51.
Then last man Mark Johnson hung around for two at one end while Brietly made it 44 not out at the other in a final stand of 57.
Former Axminster man Pile, took the bowling honours with figures of 4-20 and there was a combined haul of five wickets for the two former Ottery St Mary men with Read taking 3-34 and Rob Crabbe, 2-35.
The Kilmington run chase was led Crabbe who marked a fine all-round league debut for his new club with a half century. His offering of 54 was almost half the Kilmington total though as they were bundled out for 116.
Martin Smith took three Kilmington wickets for 26 runs. Left-armer Baglow rolled out the rest on his way to five for 12.
FENITON put their problems behind them to beat Alphington by seven wickets.
Early season availability problems meant Feniton skipper Mark Salter had to dip into the second team to bolster his side – and the understudies came up trumps.
Alphington were bowled ot for 89 in the 29th over with their best scores a brace of 15s by skipper Luke Phillips and Steve Hosgood. No one else made more than eight.
Jon French (3-24) and Matt Davies (3-2) did the early damage, then second teamer Kevin Brandon (2-6) polished off the tail.
Salter’s 34 at the top of the order steered Feniton to 78 for three and within sight of the expected win.
Mark Halse (2-14) had the best bowling figures for Alphington.
Salter said: “It was the perfect way to start the new league season. For me the biggest plus, apart from winning the game, was the way the lads who stepped up from the 2nds did.
“Our bowlers bowled good lines – John [French] bowled superbly and, on another day, might have had five or six wickets, and the support fielding was good.”
Opener Stuart Bright is unlikely to play against Budleigh on Saturday after retiring hurt with a hamstring stain.
THREE wickets each for Fionn Wardrop and Charlie Dibble eased Sidmout II to a 50-run win at Whimple.
Anthony Griffiths (44) and Byron Knowles (30) got Sidmouth up to 125 for five then Cameron Evans-Grainger (20) and Miles Dalton (22) hustled the score towards 189 for six.
Dalton suffered a recurrence of an old knee injury while batting and fears a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Steve Hathaway (2-31), Matt Brown (1-31) and Devon Nightingale (0-20) bowled tidy nine-over spells for Whimple.
Wardrop (3-19) got among the Whimple wickets early, Cameron Kidd (40) and Hathaway (36) slowed Sidmouth down then Dibble (3-33) polished them off.
THREE wickets each for Fionn Wardrop and Charlie Dibble eased Sidmouth II to a 50-run win at Whimple.
Anthony Griffiths (44) and Byron Knowles (30) got Sidmouth up to 125 for five then Cameron Evans-Grainger (20) and Miles Dalton (22) hustled the score towards 189 for six.
Dalton suffered a recurrence of an old knee injury while batting and fears a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Steve Hathaway (2-31), Matt Brown (1-31) and Devon Nightingale (0-20) bowled tidy nine-over spells for Whimple.
Wardrop (3-19) got among the Whimple wickets early, Cameron Kidd (40) and Hathaway (36) slowed Sidmouth down then Dibble (3-33) polished them off.
OTTERY St Mary had something to celebrate after they crept home by two wickets against Exeter II.
It was Ottery’s first win since the 2016 season and ended a run of defeats that ended in relegation from the B Division in September last year.
James Bovey (75) and Callum Hogan (24) were Exeter’s prime run getters imn total of 173 for nine.
Ottery’s Ollie West (3-24) and Rob Johns (2-32) posed problems with the ball then Sam Brook (4-19) skittled the tail.
West (45) and Alex Clements (31), pointed Ottery in the right direction, Bovey (4-20) and Harry Conway (2-27) slowed the chase, which left Jack Maiden (47no) to tidy up the loose ends.
