Last weekend’s trip to face Plymouth thirds saw Ottery St Mary second eleven further cement their position towards the top of the 2nd XI A Division table as a well-controlled bowling display, followed by some enterprising batting, yielded a straightforward victory, writes Ian Townsend.

After the home side had chosen to bat, Claire Varcoe and Richard Gill (7) compiled a useful 34 run opening stand before the latter was bowled by the pacey Ed Fane-Treffusis who was making his first appearance of the season.

Varcoe was playing an impressive sheet anchor role, but wickets were falling regularly at the other end against a frugal visiting attack in which teenager, Ollie Reed conceded just three runs in his first six overs.

Zac Johns (3-18) produced an excellent spell during which he ended Varcoe’s long vigil (32 from 84 balls) before bowling Tony Chapman (2) and inducing Genna Luiten (0) to give a catch to George Southall-Brown. Geoff Martin briefly resisted, hitting four boundaries in his 23, but when he was pinned leg before by the ever reliable Southall-Brown (2-29), Plymouth had been hustled out for a wholly inadequate 122.

Ed Fowler and Harry Conway began the Otters’ reply in typically expansive fashion, both men powerfully despatching some wayward home bowling to boost the total to 52 from the opening seven overs.

It was the introduction of Joe Cunningham that led to the demise of both openers as Fowler was bowled for 28 shortly before teenager Conway (25) suffered a similar fate.

However, any hopes the home side harboured of staging a comeback were quashed by regular first teamer, Alex Thurgate. The young left-hander produced a measured and characteristically wristy knock of 40 not out (five fours and a six) and, despite the loss of Steve Forbes (4) who was caught at the wicket by Chapman to give Cunningham (3-20) his third wicket, solid support from Alex Clements (9no) saw him guide the unbeaten Otters to a fifth win of the season.

Plymouth III 122 (C Varcoe 32, Extras 31, G Martin 23, Z Johns 3-18, G Southall-Brown 2-29) Ottery St Mary 125-3 (A Thurgate 40no, E Fowler 28, H Conway 25, J Cunningham 3-20). Ottery St Mary (22pts) bt Plymouth (2pts) by 7 wkts.