Newton Poppleford edge Tipton in local derby

Tipton’s match against close neighbours and friends started in a sombre mood as players from both teams stood in the middle and gave a minute’s applause to recognise the recent loss of two people who will be greatly missed, Mel Clay, wife of Newton Poppleford’s captain Kenny and Tipton veteran David O’Higgins.
Once the game got underway, Newton Poppleford built a good innings with an opening partnership of 56 between Isaac Thomas (34) and Tom Moore (23) but helped by some dropped catches. Owen Smith took the first wicket, Moore being caught by Matt Davies, then John Buckland with the first of his two wickets when Thomas was caught and bowled. He then had Tom Clay was caught at long on by David Thayre for 19.
Once Louis Adey was caught behind by Al Matthews off Davies, Tony Cox held the innings together with a fine 44, initially helped by Kenny Clay, who scored 8 before he was bowled by Phil Wright. Davies took three further wickets (4-37) Leigh Adey bowled for 21, Luke Raistrick caught by Buckland for 17 then Chris Davis bowled for 9 as the overs ran out.
Phil Wright (3-36) added two late wickets, finally trapping Cox LBW then bowling last man Ash Perram as the visitors posted 194.
Tipton’s innings also started well with 61 shared between Phil Tolley and Matt Davies.
Tipton lost Davies caught by Louis Adey off Luke Raistrick for 36, then in the same over Kev McMeeking bowled for 6. Raistrick (4-31) took two more wickets, bowling Buckland for 10 then Lev Konar for 8.
Phil Tolley reached his 50 but then lost partner Dave Thayre LBW to Cox for 10 before Louis Adey took the crucial wicket of Tolley, caught behind by Kenny Clay for 69.
Tipton’s tail failed to wag despite late runs from both Matthews and Smith, so when David Birch was bowled by Cox with the final ball of the penultimate over, Tipton were all out for 189 and lost by just 5 runs.