Another week, another disappointing result for Ottery 2nd XI as they fell by 18 runs to visiting Plymstock, writes Alex Clements

Despite a resurgent bowling performance and a battling hundred from vice captain Alex Clements, the hosts fell short again with the bat.

Asking the visitors to bat first, things did not go plan as Plymstock raced to an excellent start thanks to some wayward bowling. Brian Gaylard was particularly lethal on the cut and was supported well by Paul Birleson, the pair racking an opening stand of 91 in quick time. It took the introduction of Harry Peters to break the stand, his first ball finding Birleson’s edge which spooned to Alex Tubbs in the gully for 28. Another useful stand of 41 between Gaylard and Marc Woodward took the visitors to 132-1 just before drinks when Harry Peters struck again, this time finding Gaylard’s edge to be caught behind for 69. From this point onwards the innings began to swing back the home side’s way. Dan Jeacock accounted for both Tom Mitch and Rob Baker both caught and bowled, either side of Woodward being castled by Peters for 27 and when Luke Holman was trapped leg before first ball to give Jeacock (3-28) his third wicket, Plymstock had fallen to 146-6. George Barnicott (23) and Billy Gibson (25) added 53 to stabilise the innings, with both players still looking to be positive with their stroke play. George Southall-Brown was then rewarded for a good accurate spell of bowling when he accounted for Barnicott, caught at short third man by Ric Jackson and Alex Chapman, bowled for nought. Gibson was then deceived by Rob Johns to be bowled and when Dave Grant saw his stumps pegged back the Plymstock innings ended on 219 all out.

The Ottery reply suffered an early setback when Dan Jeacock was strangled down the legside off Gibson for 5. Survivng opener Alex Clements and Harry Peters then went about setting a platform for the innings. The pair added 45 before Peters (18) played across the line and spooned to the covers. A mini collapse, under the pressure of accurate bowling from Woodward and Barnicott, saw the innings descend to 70-5. After Alex Tubbs (1), Jack Webber (4) and Rob Johns (4) were all bowled, it took a determined supporting knock from captain Jackson to get the innings back on track. In partnership with Clements, 60 runs were added patiently mainly through quick singles. However, the run rate started to climb and Jackson was eventually bowled for 21 looking to push on. With 90 runs required, Ottery looked to accelerate but found boundaries tough to come by. Southall Brown struck a few defiant blows for 15 and despite Clements reaching a well-made hundred (136 balls, eleven fours), the chase ended up falling 18 runs short. At the halfway stage of the season, Ottery find themselves 5th in the table with a massive fixture against undefeated Torquay to come this weekend.

Plymstock 219 (B Gaylard 69, P Birleson, M Woodward 27, B Gibson 25, G Barnicott 23; D Jeacock 3-28, G Southall-Brown 3-31, H Peters 3-33), Ottery St Mary 201-7 (A Clements 101*, R Jackson 21, H Peters 18, G Barnicott 2-23, M Woodward 2-31) Plymstock (18pts) beat Ottery St Mary (10pts) by 18 runs

Otters Man of the Match – Alex Clements