Branscombe enjoys cricket tournament

EVEN as the England cricket team stumbled to a dismal defeat at Headingly a different story was unfolding at Branscombe.

EVEN as the England cricket team stumbled to a dismal defeat at Headingly a different story was unfolding at Branscombe.

The annual six a sides cricket tournament was blessed with unbroken sunshine to the delight of players and spectators. Everything went well, the arrangements were all in place and six teams turned up. After registration and last minute plugging of gaps in teams, a briefing by the head umpire on local rules, and a hearty bacon roll from the Barbecue, play got underway at 10.30, only half an hour late.

Group one play off featured Branscombe Dads and Lads, Erratics (an Exeter team), and the Presidents men, while group two playoff contained Sunsett (Woodbury), Rock (Sidmouth youth), and the Silverbacks.

After the lunch interval in the semi-finals The Erratics beat Sunsett and the Presidents men beat Rock. There was then a playoff for the wooden spoon trophy in which Silverbacks lost to Branscombe Dads and Lads thus earning a bottle of Supermarket Cava. At last now to the final, The President's men versus the Erratics. The Erratics batted first and in their five overs racked up 59 runs (a score over 60 is reckoned very good in this form of cricket) but the President's men passed this total with 5 balls to spare. Their Captain, Will Hopson Hill was presented with the cup and a bottle of Champagne by the President, who also presented a bottle to the Erratics as runners up.

Tired but pleasantly entertained, sunned, wined and dined the assembly then dispersed, looking forward to next year.