A very young and inexperienced Ottery 3rd XI was taught some tough lessons at King’s Field on Saturday when beaten by Cullompton II, writes Kit Richards.

However, the team did well enough to suggest that there is cause for great optimism for the club’s future.

Bowling first with a hard, fast outfield, the Otters were soon up against it. From the outset the Cully openers Rob McManus (26) and Prince Xavier punished anything with width and the scoreboard rattled along. With the first change of bowling there was success. Young left armer Ashok Prasad was finding a lot of movement across the right-handers and he managed to bowl McManus behind his legs.

This brought in veteran Mark Mortiboys to join Prince and they brought the Cullompton hundred up before Prince was trapped leg before for 40 by the youngest player on the park, Max Moore.

Visiting skipper Guy Durant came in and looked at home from the outset. He and Mortiboys both clocked up big scores, profiting from inconsistent lines from the Ottery bowlers and some cautious fielding.

Both were dismissed in the death overs by Jake Tierney, Mortiboys well caught by Jack Dallyn from a skier for 95 whilst Harry McNamara-Campbell was relieved to hold on to one at deep point to bag Durant for 90.

McNamara-Campbell’s catch was all the more remarkable given that he was heard remarking a few balls later that he was in completely the wrong position, having been placed at fine leg.

It was a harsh session in the field for Ottery, but the swing of Ashok Prasad, the fielding of Dallyn and the assured wicket keeping of Megan Thompson-Summers all augur well for the years to come.

John Tierney, spurred into action by last week’s outstanding egg sandwiches at Topsham, hit upon a sensational mix of egg and mayonnaise.

Could this be the lift that Ottery needed?

Alas, Cullompton kept their feet firmly on the Otters’ necks. Richard Kitzinger struck a few boundaries and copped a bail in the eye, but flailed at a wide one from Ollie May and was caught at backward point.

Dallyn and Joe Button set about putting batting points on the board with a partnership of 62, but wickets then fell regularly with Dallyn (19), Ethan Glanville (2) and Prasad (12) sent back to the gazebo.

John Tierney arrived at the wicket and the field immediately scattered, allowing the former Devon star some easy singles to get underway.

He soon reached warp speed, however, powering several sixes en route to 55, but when he and Button (who made a very composed 68) fell, the game was up.

Cullompton 344-5 (M Mortiboys 95, G Durant 90, P Xavier 40, R McManus 26, Jake Tierney 2-40), Ottery St Mary 3rd XI 223 (J Button 68, John Tierney 55, R McManus 4-42, G Bowles 2-11, O May 2-57). Cullompton (20 pts) bt Ottery St Mary (7 pts) by 121 runs.

Otters Man of the Match - Joe Button