Devon Women's Softball League 2025 Finals Day Report

And it all came down to the last ball...

After the 150 games across the 7 divisions and 36 teams, it was a tense watch as the culmination of the Devon Women’s Softball league came down to the very last ball of the day.  

The seven division winners and highest scoring runners-up (see below) had been reduced to four teams during the quarter-final play-offs the previous week. This left Budleigh Salterton CC Otter team, Exwick CC, Holsworthy CC and Ottery St Mary CC softball women’s teams to play it out on Finals Day held at Sandford CC on Saturday, 6 September.  

The full cup draw and scorecards can be found here.

DIVISION WINNERS

Tamar	Dartmoor	Exe	Jurassic	Riviera	Otter	Tor	Runners-Up
Cornwood CC Delamore	Holsworthy CC	Exwick CC	Ottery St Mary CC	Paignton CC	Budleigh Salterton CC Otter	Abbotskerswell CC	Exeter CC

Semi Finals

Exwick CC vs Ottery St Mary CC

As the players struggled to get used to the very windy conditions at Sandford, the semi-finals began.  

Exwick hosted Ottery St Mary. Ottery won the toss and elected to field. With only Caitlin Dawson finding the boundary for Exwick and reaching double figures, Ottery were able to restrict Exwick’s total and in reply won the game by 44 runs (Eva Bowring 18*, Polly Williams, 15*), continuing their strong batting performance, which has been a feature of their league season.  

Scorecard

Holsworthy CC vs Budleigh Salterton CC

On the main pitch, Holsworthy took on Budleigh Otters. With a shaky start to their batting, Holsworthy settled. With good strike rates and regular boundaries, Holsworthy ended their innings on a net score of 322.

With the loss of regular wickets during Budleigh’s innings, and tight fielding restricting the boundaries, Budleigh could not reach the total needed and Holsworthy joined Ottery St Mary in the final.

Scorecard

3rd/4th Play Off

Exwick CC vs Budleigh Salterton CC

In the third/fourth play off, Exwick won the toss and elected to bat. Again, Caitlin Dawson got them off to a great start with 21 off 13 balls. The wickets taken by Budleigh all belonged to the Real family, two of them bowled by Hattie Real (daughter) and caught by Kate real (mum). Setting a score of 79 to beat, Budleigh batted with intent, most players reaching double figures. However tight fielding and accurate bowling and an amazing catch by the wicket keeper, Caitlin Smith meant that despite their high score, Budleigh lost too many wickets and ending an very close 5 runs short.  

Scorecard

The Final

Holsworthy CC vs Ottery St Mary CC

At the toss, Holsworthy won and elected to bat. Set against the consistent bowling and tight fielding of the Ottery team, Holsworthy were restricted to just 77 runs for 3 wickets (net score 262). Ottery were pleased with their fielding performance and with their batting history, felt they had a chance.  

Ottery started well, scoring 29 runs off the first 3 overs. However, in the next over, Layla Godfrey changed the game, taking 3 wickets in 4 balls. A more cautious Ottery continued to bat and they regained the lead, but the loss of a wicket in the 14th and 15th over put the game put the game in the balance.  

Right down to the last ball, Holsworthy could have won the game with a wicket, but the Ottery batters held their nerve and, with the final ball, claimed the title with 2 runs to spare.  

Congratulations to Ottery who became the league champions for the first time.  

Scorecard

"We couldn’t have asked for a better final and play-off. The spectators and teams have been treated to some great cricket. It’s just the way the season should end," comments Ann-Marie Presswell.

"I'd like to thank everyone involved in the softball game who has given up time this season to manage, captain, coach and play. They make the league the fantastic offering that it is, and I really appreciate everything they do to support the growth of the women’s game."

Celebration

After the games had finished, the players and spectators retired to the clubhouse for the awards ceremony.

Fair Play Award

Tamar	Dartmoor	Exe	Jurassic	Riviera	Otter	Tor
Moorland Maidens	Hatherleigh CC	Thorverton CC	Budleigh Salterton CC	Teignmouth & Shaldon CC	Culmstock CC	Ashburton CC
League Winner: Budleigh Salterton CC

Division Batter

Tamar	Dartmoor	Exe	Jurassic	Riviera	Otter	Tor
Kate Hutchinson	Kym McGrattan	Alice Johnson	Polly Williams	Hannah Gray	Chloe Phillips	Julie Ingham-Hill
League Winner: Alice Johnson, 216 runs

Division Bowler

Tamar	Dartmoor	Exe	Jurassic	Riviera	Otter	Tor
Libby Stallard	Kym McGrattan	Gabby Le Maux	Nat Sparks	Hannah Gray	Hayley Hawkins	Ella Joyner
League Winner: Nat Sparks, 15 wickets