By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE
HATHERLEIGH’S stand-in captain Rob Cockwill hopes to see a bit more mental application from his team when North Devon pay a visit this Saturday.
First time out Sandford beat Hatherleigh by five wickets at Creedy Park in a low-scoring affair interrupted several times by bad weather.
Although the game was interrupted by rain, Cockwill felt Hatherleigh could and should have made more than 119 all out.
“We needed to apply ourselves with the bat a little better,” said Cockwill, who is standing in for the injured Mark Lake.
“A few of us made starts but no one except Paul Heard made the most of a good wicket.
“Obviously the rain played a massive part in the day. Normally the game would have not gone ahead, but both teams and umpires were keen to get the game on!
“I think a few of our lads didn't have the right mind set, as I think they were expecting the game to be called off.”
Hatherleigh struggled to 119 all out in the 40th over of what started as a 45-overs-each match that was reduced to 41 a side.
Hatherleigh new boy Paul Heard went in when his new team-mates were an unimpressive 49 for five and was last man out for a painstakingly made 55 off 67 balls.
Chris Simpson topped the Sandford bowling stats with three wickets for 19 runs and there were two each for Shaun Fryett and skipper Richard Foan.
More rain after tea meant fewer overs for Sandford to chase a Duckworth-Lewis calculated target of 75 to win in 21 overs. It was mission accomplished with more than four overs un-bowled.
Most of the Sandford batters chipped in with a few runs, the best being opener Ryan Glass (22) and Harrison Jones (21). Ruben Forrester (3-20) had the most success with the ball for Hatherleigh.
Victorious captain Foan said it was a good game to win in what were difficult circumstances and under unfamiliar playing rules and regulations
“All the players from both teams did really well to get a game played,” said Foan.
“And I have to say the umpires were very proactive to get the game played, which was good to see having missed so many games this year.”
On the game itself, Foan said: “I was happy to be asked to bowl first in those conditions
“Simmo set the tone with some early wickets and everyone else bowled very well even with a wet ball.
“It is still early for the batsmen, and not easy going on and off for the weather, but we got the job done.”
Hatherleigh skipper Lake, who suffered a broken shoulder in a pre-season game when he dived to stop a ball in the outfield, is resigned to being out for the remainder of the summer.
“There is nothing that can be done other than rest and do not very much,” said Lake.
“It is a pain in the backside really. But if there was any season to do it in this is the one.”
Saturday’s game at Hatherleigh will be the first game played by the 1stXI on the ground since the pavilion was extensively remodelled during the close season.
PREMIER DIVISION ROUND UP - WEEK ONE
Exeter v Cullompton | Heathcoat v North Devon | Paignton v Plympton | Sidmouth v Seaton | Sandford v Hatherleigh
