Sam Wakeham, who is returning to the captaincy of Ipplepen 1st XI for the season ahead<br>credit: Conrad Sutcliffe - no re-use without copyright owner's consent

CONRAD SUTCLIFFE REPORTING

SAM Wakeham is set for a second stint as Ipplepen’s 1st XI captain as the club re-groups following a double relegation season.

Wakeham last led the side between 2017-20, then handed over to Ashley Harvey for a couple of seasons. Matt Beasant was in charge in 2024 and 2025.

Pens’ first team slipped down from fifth in the Tolchards B Division table at the halfway stage in 2025 to second from bottom with four games to go. There they stayed, with just two wins to their name in the second half of the season.

Relegation means Pens drop into the C Division West next season, which they last graced back in 2014. Keith Wakeham – father of Sam – was Pens’ promotion-winning captain all those years ago. It was a decent summer for Wakeham Snr & Co as Ipplepen beat Uplyme to claim the Corinthian Cup.

An unhappy consequence of the 1st XI going down is that their 2nd XI clubmates had to surrender their place in the C Division West to accommodate them. 

When the DCL merged the formerly separate first and second-team competitions into an all-through league in 2018, a rule was voted in prohibiting two teams from the same club being in the same division.

Ipplepen 2nd X* became the first team to fall foul of the rule, which was tough to take as they finished two places and 22 point clear of the relegation zone. Paignton 2nd XI were reprieved from the drop at Pens’ expense.

While results and outcomes have generally been positive for Pens’ second and third teams in recent seasons – both gained promotions in 2024 – the firsts have been becalmed in the bottom half of the table since 2022.Matt Beasant, who has handed the Ipplepen captaincy to Sam Wakeham

Captain Wakeham’s first priority is to regain the winning habit that’s vital to getting out of a division with just one promotion spot.

“It has been a tough few years just, hanging around the bottom of the table,” said Wakeham.

“We will be looking to consolidate and win more games than we lose, with an aim of finishing in the top three in a really tough division

“We have played several of the teams in the division in recent seasons and have come out on the wrong side of the result. 

“It's still a relatively young squad so I see this as an opportunity for the everyone to learn and perfect their craft.

“We are under no illusion that it's going to be anything other than competitive every week.

“And we are Looking forward to lots of local derbies (South Devon, Teignmouth & Shaldon, Abbotskerswell and Chudleigh), which we have missed."

Pens are close to finalising visa arrangements to bring over an young New Zealander, no name yet, as their overseas player.

“He is a left-arm quick bowler, and top-order bat,” said the captain. “He is a friend of George Tapley, who had a stint in New Zealand last year.”

Former skipper Beasant remains committed to Ipplepen and hopes to contribute more now a clutch of injuries have cleared up.

“After struggling last season with my back, my body is the best it has been for years,” said Beasant.

“I still feel I have a lot to offer and should be back bowling again.”