CONRAD SUTCLIFFE REPORTING

PLYMOUTH Civil Service & Roborough are booked into two play-off finals tomorrow.

The 1st XI travel to Uplyme & Lyme Regis for the Tier Five champions’ play-off.

The reformed 2nd XI back in action this season after an absence, are at home to Chudleigh 2nd XI.

Brian Gaylard, the CS&R captain, said reaching two finals was a sign of how far the club had grown in a relatively short space of time.

“We are at full strength in both teams, which means six players unfortunately miss out,” said Gaylard.

“It is a far cry from last season when we were struggling to get 11 players on a Saturday.

“It just goes to show how far the club has come in such a short time.”

Civil stormed  into the Level Five play-off final with a 10-wicket demolition job on Barton 2nd XI.

Andy Pugh, the former Devon and England Amateurs batsman, made 26 and Lewis Crocker top scored with 43 in Barton’s total of 132 all out. Matt Ball (3-23) took out three of Barton’s top four.

Openers Alan Smith (92no) and Rob Gaylard (27no) were in the 29th over when the winning runs were scored.

SKIPPER Steve Batey clattered his second league ton of the reduced DCL season in Uplyme’s 82-run win over Feniton.

Batey’s first ton was taken off Axminster and he repeated the feat with 101 as Uplyme totted-up 242 all out.

Alfie Jaques (24), Tyler Wellman (32) and Joe Elsworth (29) were Batey’s supporting acts.

John Buckland (4-36) took the bowling plaudits for Feniton.

Batey’s contribution to the game continued with three wickets as Feniton were bowled out for 160.

Jacob Maltby (3-25) was also among the wickets as Feniton’s last five wickets fell for 25 runs. Mark Kingdon (58) top scored for Feniton.

A DERBY day play-off is on the cards for SP&T 2nd XI after they beat Shaldon 3rd XI by five wickets in the Tier Five semi-final for fifth-placed clubs.

Waiting for SP&T in the final are Cullompton, who went through against Babbacombe by five wickets.

Shaldon were held to 135 for seven in their 35-over allocation, no one making more than Charlie Woolnough (36).

Fred Harding (3-20) and Harry Southgate (3-38) dominated the bowling stats for SP&T.

Opener Jonny Chilcott was an early casualty when SP&T batted, but Kevin Fever (28) got the chase going and Southgate (53no) finished it off.

For Tom Cowle, the SP&T captain, it was a workmanlike job well done.

“We bowled tightly and fielded well, Fred Harding and Harry Southgate in particular, which meant Shaldon scored slowly and probably felt they didn’t get enough,” said Cowle.

“We were able to knock off the runs fairly quickly, thanks to a patient 50 from Harry Southgate and some hard hitting from Kev Fever.

James Shere bagged a four-wicket haul for Cullompton 2nd XI, which helped skittle Babbacombe for 116.

Cully collapsed to eight for three in reply, but before the situation got any worse Adam Friend (17) and Euan Tinley (43) got going then left Rob McManus (30no) and Prince Xavier (16no) to wrap up victory.

ALPHINGTON & Countess Wear breezed into the Tier Five play-off for runners-up thanks to a six-wicket win over visiting Honiton.

Two clubs become one during the last close season when the former merged with the latter and all the signs are the new entity is going to be a success.

Peter Matravers (42) and James Matravers (26) had the only scores of note in Honiton’s total of 130 all out.

Mark Halse did the damage with the ball for Alphington with a five-for-20 haul.

Top three Dave Jarvis (23), James Bogue (25) and Andy Fairbairn (35) got A&CW’S target down to 20 to win, which was never going to be a problem. Rob Ingham (3-37) was Honiton’s leading wicket taker.

It’s Ivybridge 2nd XI away this Saturday for A&CW, something that will be a new experience for most of the team.

“It is a bonus fixture with lots of keen players wanting to play, which is a great sign from the first year,” said captain James Bogue. 

“Really pleased with how everything has gone and the enthusiasm from players and officials. 

“Hoping to sign off with a good, competitive game on a new ground for most of us.”

STOKEINTEIGNHEAD beat Braunton 2nd XI by just two runs in a low-scoring Group One semi-final for Tier Seven sides.

Braunton thought they had done the hard part by bowling out Stoke for 106. Only Mike Lang (35) made much progress for Stoke as Andy Jones (3-24), Dan Brierley (2-23) and Andy Norman (2-25) ran through the rest of the batting.

Braunton were pinned down from the start by miserly bowling from Stoke’s new-ball pair Tom Hawkins (4-9) and Paul Russell (2-25). Mike Lang (3-15) maintained the pressure despite Julian Lambert’s efforts (31) to break free.

Last pair Andy Jones and Phil James (23) came together with 22 needed to win, but didn’t quite make it.

Stoke’s opponents in the final are local rivals Shaldon 2nd XI, who defeated Yelverton Bohemians 2nd XI by 67 runs.

Opener Andrew Espley made 61 for Shaldon, and there were chip-ins from Ross Aitchison (27) and Josh Hall (25) in a 35-over total of 189 all out.

Keiran Martin (3-24) got into the Moorlanders’ early order, James Waggett (3-37) kept the pressure on in the middle and Harrison Linnett (2-13) picked off some stragglers as Yelverton were bowled-out for 122.