DIVISION TWO TITLE RACE HEADS INTO CRUCIAL SUNDAY
Hatherleigh have the advantage, but Plympton and Taunton still have plenty to play for
The Tolchards Devon Women’s League Division Two title race could take another significant turn this Sunday, with all three sides still in contention in action.
Plympton go into the weekend top on 66 points, four ahead of Hatherleigh on 62, although Hatherleigh still have two matches left to play. Taunton Deane 2nd XI are third on 40 and, while their route to the title is a difficult one, they remain mathematically in the race.
For Hatherleigh, the important figure is 25. That is the number of points they need from the 40 still available to make certain of the title.
Clyst St George v Hatherleigh
Sunday, 1.30pm – Bohea Field
HATHERLEIGH HEAD TO BOHEA FIELD WITH TITLE IN SIGHT
Hatherleigh travel to Clyst St George knowing they are in control of their own title challenge.
The two sides have yet to meet in Division Two this season and, with the return fixture at Hatherleigh still to come on September 13, they will see plenty of each other during the closing weeks of the campaign.
Hatherleigh’s season has included a number of strong individual performances, with Chloe Dennis leading the way in both departments.
Dennis has scored 153 runs at an average of 51, including a highest score of 96, and also tops the Division Two bowling figures with nine wickets at 7.67. Her best return is 5-7.
Chloe Rose has added 78 runs, while Olivia Cooper has made 71 at 35.50 and taken five wickets at an economy rate of 3.04.
Clyst, though, have players capable of making life awkward for the visitors. Charlotte Taylor is their leading run-scorer with 95, including a best of 66, while Ali West has made 87 with a highest score of 72.
Clyst cannot win the title themselves, but with fixtures still to come against the teams above them they could yet have a considerable say in who does.
Hatherleigh need 25 points from their final two matches to guarantee top spot. A victory at Bohea Field would move them very close to their target.
Plympton v Taunton Deane 2nd XI
Sunday, 1.30pm – Harewood Park
PLYMPTON HAVE ONE LAST CHANCE TO ADD TO THEIR TOTAL
Plympton know exactly where they stand going into Sunday.
This is their final league fixture of the season and, starting the weekend on 66 points, their maximum achievable total is 86. The job for them is simply to take as many points as possible from Taunton and then see what Hatherleigh can do in their remaining games.
Plympton’s Evie Hampton says the focus is on bouncing back from their recent T20 Plate defeat and finishing their league campaign strongly.
“The girls are looking to get back to winning ways after a narrow loss to Plymouth in the T20 Plate. Currently two points clear at the top and hoping to stretch that lead over Hatherleigh, who have one game in hand… Game on!”
Plympton had the better of the previous meeting between the sides.
Taunton batted first and Pippa Stephens made 51, but Steph Hutchins produced the decisive spell with 5-7 from seven overs, including two maidens, as Taunton were bowled out for 76.
There was a little early encouragement for Taunton in the reply when Amelie Keal removed Immy Burt and Maddie Turner for ducks, but Nannapat Khoncharoenkai quickly changed the tone of the chase.
The Plympton overseas struck an unbeaten 55 from only 19 balls, with Hutchins adding 14 not out as Plympton completed a comfortable win.
Khoncharoenkai will not feature this weekend, having now returned home to Thailand. Her stay was brief but certainly productive, with 190 runs from only two league innings, including an unbeaten 135.
That leaves more responsibility with the rest of the Plympton side. Hutchins has scored 80 runs and taken eight wickets for just 12 runs at an average of 1.50, while Hampton has chipped in with 75 runs and five wickets.
Taunton, however, arrive with the division’s leading run-scorer in their side.
Pippa Stephens has scored 231 runs at an average of 57.75, with three half-centuries and a highest score of 92, while Imogen Dunne has made 101 at 50.50.
Their wickets have been spread around. Beatrice How and Martha Wilkes have six each, Georgia Adams and Amelie Keal five apiece, while Daisy Farrow has four wickets at an average of 5.50.
Taunton can still reach 80 points, although they need two strong results and plenty to go their way elsewhere. A win at Harewood Park would at least keep their outside hopes alive.
