Ottery St Mary 2nd XI kept their hopes of survival in E Division alive when they claimed a hard fought victory from the trip to Woodbury & Newton St Cyres, writes IanTownsend.

The home side were immediately forced onto the backfoot when Simon Vicary was castled for a duck by Harsha Liyanage and Ian Hughes was held by Liyanage off fellow seamer, Luke Tierney, also without troubling the scorers. Liyanage then sent back Sheenan Grossberg (19) and Phil Dale (0) who edged behind to Eddie Rudolph leaving W & N in the mire at 40-4.

The home side never really recovered as change bowlers Henry Mutter and Jake Tierney exerted a strangle hold, conceding just 34 runs in a combined 14 overs. Jake Tierney was rewarded with the wicket of Stephen Boundy (12), trapped lbw, and Mutter removed Nalin Chouhan (19) in similar fashion.

The return of Luke Tierney (2-26) saw Martin Pearce fall for a duck before Becca Silk and Dave Church posted the only substantial stand of the innings, adding 51 before Liyanage (4-32) capped a fine spell by bowling Silk (23) and Church (24) was trapped lbw by Max Moore. When last man Chris Alford (1) edged behind to Rudolph off Jake Tierney (2-18), Woodbury & Netwon St Cyres had been hustled out for just 137.

After skipper Dan Jeacock and Steve Triner (10) had posted a useful 33-run opening stand, the impressive Silk removed the latter, courtesy of a catch by Boundy. The Otters suffered three further casualties in quick succession as Luke Tierney (10) and Mutter (1) fell to Silk and Rudolph was removed by Daniel Alford without scoring. Things looked bleak for the visitors when Silk (4-18) then sent back the dangerous Liyanage (5) as the score plunged to 67-5.

However, Dan Jeacock was batting doggedly and after he was joined by bother Tom, the pair applied themselves admirably in putting together a crucial stand which turned the game. Despite Dan Jeacock's fine knock ending at 60 (122 balls with seven fours) as he gave a return catch to Church, the Otters were almost there and even though Brett Venables departed for a single, with solid support from Jon Triner (10*), Tom Jeacock saw his team home remaining unbeaten on 21. The Otters, who now sit a tantalising ten points from safety, next face a tough fixture at home to promotion chasing Sidmouth 3rd XI.

Woodbury & Newton St Cyres 137 (Extras 39, D Church 24, B Silk 23, H Liyanage 4-32, J Tierney 2-18, L Tierney 2-26) Ottery St Mary 2nd XI 138-7 (D Jeacock 60, T Jeacock 21*, B.Silk 4-18). Ottery St Mary (19pts) bt Woodbury & Newton St Cyres by 3 wkts.