Ottery 3rd XI batsmen John Tierney and Joe Button were in terrifc form as they both hit big scores to guide the team to East Dveon debry success over Feniton, writes Ian Townsend.

Given that the pitch had been floating following a downpour the previous evening, Feniton had little hesitation in inserting the Otters upon winning the toss and accordingly, conditions very much favoured of the new ball bowlers. Ottery were soon under pressure with opener Harry Peters caught at slip without scoring following an almighty but unsuccessful whoosh. Number three George Mutter (3) was unable to continue his recent fine form, popping an offering to silly mid off for and Dom Lovesy and Albie Southall-Brown both followed soon after.

There was then a concerted effort between surviving opener Richard Kitzinger and Luke Tierney to see off the new ball bowling of Jack Tucker and Stuart Bright.

This they managed to do, but Kitzinger (20) then fell to the first ball he received from Kevin Brandon, offering a straightforward catch to the bowler in his follow through. Enter Joe Button with the score at a perilous 34 for 6. The youngster was flummoxed by the first couple of deliveries he faced but soon found his feet, placing the ball wonderfully over and through the field. The frustration quickly told on the Feniton fielders who found themselves moving to where the ball had just been hit only for Button to confound them with a shot into another gap as he rocketed past his previous highest score of 45 and brought up his maiden half century.

By now skipper John Tierney had joined Button and the pair ran riot. Sixes rained down on local property and one ball struck by Tierney was lost, last seen heading for Honiton. With only a handful of overs to go, Button’s glorious innings was ended by a catch in the covers with the youngster just ten short of a remarkable century. His 90 had rescued the innings and Tierney’s own unbeaten 96 had transformed the cause from hopeless to dominant. Both had played aggressively yet with great sense, picking the right balls to hit from Feniton’s weaker bowlers.

Revitalised, the Otters sensed a great opportunity and Harry McNamara-Campbell roared down the hill in a flurry of arms and legs, striking with the final ball of the first over. George Mutter took the catch behind the stumps and the Ottery pups believed they could pull off a win. It was to be the first of three richly deserved wickets for the tall speedster, McNamara-Campbell, in a seven over spell costing only three runs. His new ball partner, Luke Tierney, claimed a fabulous caught and bowled which may have been self-defence but reads in the scorebook as a catch and with the added bonus of his still being able to father children one day! The change bowlers Jack Dallyn (9 tight overs) and Jake Tierney (3 for 16) continued to exert pressure and, with catches being held by Southall-Brown, Dallyn, Peters and Button the victory march continued. The final three wickets were shared by Southall-Brown, Lovesy and Peters as Ottery dismissed their hosts for only 144 with eight overs still in the bank to claim an excellent third victory of the season.

Ottery St Mary 3rd XI 238-9 (J Tierney 96*, J Button 90, R Kitzinger 20, S Bright 2-1, K Brandon 2-2, J Tucker 2-62) Feniton 144 (Extras 30, S Bright 28, H McNamara-Campbell 3-15, J Tierney 3-16). Ottery St Mary (20pts) bt Feniton (7pts) by 94 runs.

Otters Man of the Match – Joe Button