The 2026 season of the Tolchards Devon Women’s League got underway on Sunday, providing an exciting early insight into what lies ahead this summer. With the opening fixtures taking place in Division One, teams wasted no time in setting the tone for the months to come.

Read on to see how each side fared in the opening round of action.

Paignton Make an Early Statement Against Cornwood

Cornwood began their season by hosting Paignton, who won the toss and elected to field first. The home side made a difficult start, losing opener Gemma Lancaster early, followed by a cluster of wickets that left them struggling at 37- 4.

Frankie Lee provided much-needed momentum with an aggressive 45 from 32 deliveries before being dismissed by Flick Smith. Shini Al Khalid then anchored the innings with a patient unbeaten 31* from 70 balls, but with wickets continuing to fall at the other end, Cornwood were eventually bowled out for 149 in 31.5 overs.

In reply, Paignton started confidently, putting on 46 for the first wicket before Lauren Perkin was dismissed by Keira De Villiers for 17. The run out of Isabel Smith briefly offered Cornwood hope, but Ella Gill led the response superbly. Reaching a half-century, she guided the chase with authority, finishing unbeaten on 86*. Supported by Ellie Bishop (17*), Paignton comfortably reached their target to secure victory.

Exeter Welcome Newbies Exmouth

Exeter welcomed newly promoted Exmouth for their opening fixture, with the home side winning the toss and choosing to bat first. Early on, Exmouth dominated, reducing Exeter to eight wickets down inside 16 overs, with Watson and Holmes claiming three wickets apiece.

However, the game turned back into Exeter's favour due to an outstanding partnership between Imogen Daldorph (64*) and Briella Humphreys Crouch (43*). The pair added an unbeaten 138 runs, completely shifting the momentum and guiding Exeter to a remarkable total of 265 from their 40 overs.

In response, Exmouth struggled to build any momentum with the bat. Lucy Humphreys top-scored with 26, but lacked support as wickets fell regularly. Exeter’s bowlers maintained control throughout, dismissing Exmouth for just 76 in 25.1 overs. Briella Humphreys Crouch capped an excellent all-round performance by taking four wickets, helping secure a dominant victory for Exeter.

Plymouth’s Title Defence Off to a Shaky Start

Plymouth began their title defence by hosting North Devon, winning the toss and opting to field first. The visitors made full use of the opportunity, producing an excellent batting display. Megan Snape led the way with 87 runs, while Rose Ball (50) and Regina Lilii (63) added valuable support, the trio combining for 200 runs as North Devon posted a commanding 268 from their 40 overs.

Plymouth made a shaky start, losing both openers inside the first ten overs. A recovery followed through Lily Innes, who struck 53, and Melissa Banks, who added 54, with the pair sharing an 84-run partnership to steady the innings. 

However, once Banks was dismissed, the momentum shifted back to North Devon. Regular wickets halted Plymouth’s progress, and despite their earlier fightback, they were eventually bowled out for 204 in 36.5 overs. Rebecca Savory was the standout with the ball, finishing with impressive figures of 3 for 18 to help secure a well-earned victory for North Devon.

All three divisions are in action this week, with plenty to look forward to across the league. Keep an eye out for Saturday’s game preview, where we’ll take a closer look at the key matchups and what to expect.