Sidmouth III’s had a new man at the helm and it paid instant dividends as the side won their first game of the Tolchards Devon league 2nd XI B Division East campaign.

David Watkins has taken over the captaincy and began his time in charge with an 11-run win over fellow strugglers Upottery II.

The first task for the new skipper did not go to plan as he lost the toss and his opposite number wasted no time in inviting Watkins to tell his batsmen to pad up!

The Sidmouth batting effort was not the best, but it was played out in conditions that certainly favoured the bowlers with former captain Graham Munday hitting a splendid 62 – his the last wicket fall – after he had come to the wicket with his former charges 28-2.

Munday hit six fours and two sixes in his knock and his 35-run partnership with Anthony Dibble (28) for the third wicket proved to be the most productive partnership of the innings. Rob Fowler’s eight – six of them in one big hit – was the third highest Sidmouth offering.

The Upottery run chase began well – they have no fewer than four Kennard’s in their ranks and all made contributions.

Watkins rang the changes and this brought immediate success with young Jordan Fowler drawing an Upottery batsman into a lofted shot that was caught well by Mike Pidgeon.

Bruce Robson then got in on the act of wicket taking and he went on to claim three wickets for 31 runs and Toby Seldon took two wickets in three balls to restrict Upottery to 107-8.

Graham Munday was next to break through and Anthony Dibble rounded things off with a leg before decision that confirmed a first win of the season for the Fortfield men.

This Saturday Watkins leads his men to second in the table Bradninch.