Former Exmouth and Devon player Mark Woodman produced a seam bowling master class to propel Ottery St Mary 1st XI to a much needed second victory of the season.

Former Exmouth and Devon player Mark Woodman produced a seam bowling master class to propel Ottery St Mary 1st XI to a much needed second victory of the season in their clash with visiting Uplyme and Lyme Regis. The experienced paceman returned the incredible figures of five wickets for just eight runs in 14 metronomically accurate overs which, coupled with a hugely improved fielding performance, ensured that the visitors failed in their pursuit of an eminently gettable target.Batting first, the Otters were confronted with some aggressive pace bowling from Uplyme skipper Ashley Caddy, who soon removed Steve Forbes (1), beaten for pace and bowled in the fourth over. After the total crawled to just 16 from 10 overs, Matt Kirk and Charl Axsel gradually loosened the shackles, the former unleashing some powerful drives and the latter deflecting the ball skilfully as the pair compiled a 52 run partnership before Kirk (27) fell to a tumbling, juggling catch at slip by Ashley Caddy off the bowling of brother, Adam. Incoming Otters' skipper Jody Clements lifted off spinner Phil Norris for six over midwicket, but a sharp display of ground fielding and accurate bowling from the visitors kept the scoring rate in check. Axsel's patient innings ended at 25 as he chipped a delivery from Norris into the covers, but Clements was beginning to play beautifully, producing a series of lovely shots all around the wicket. Ollie Mann (18) lofted Neil Price for four over midwicket to bring up the 100 but soon fell to a catch in the deep off the same bowler and, after Clements's fine knock ended at 43 (5 x 4s, 1 x 6), courtesy of a terrific catch at cover by Steve Batey off Ashley Caddy, a middle order collapse ensued. The score plunged from 133-5 to 142-9 as Price removed Lewis Townsend (2), Sam Lynch (0) and Mark Woodman (1) and Ashley Caddy's pace accounted for Rob Bradshaw-Smith, bowled for ten. Enter the enigma that is Rob Crabb, the young, former Yarcombe all- rounder who, every so often, provides a tantalising glimpse of his prodigious talent. Ashley Caddy's highly impressive figures were seriously dented as Crabb unleashed a series of magnificent blows. Well supported by last man Scott Gibbins (7 not out), Crabb plundered 22 runs from just 12 balls and boosted the total to a reasonable 170 all out before, unluckily holing out to long on off Adam Caddy. Ashley Caddy (3-52) and Neil Price (4-37) were the pick of an excellent visiting bowling attack.In reply, Uplyme were soon in trouble against Woodman who first removed Mark Batey (4) with a leg cutter, which induced a knick behind to Axsel, then trapped the experienced Derek Wellman lbw for a duck. Batey's cover driven four from the second ball of the innings was to be the only boundary conceded by Woodman in 14 overs of textbook bowling, his only other 'blemishes' being three singles and a wide! The visitors were staring down the barrel at 63-5 and when, with no addition to the total, the irrepressible Woodman then struck two further blows, Uplyme appeared to be beaten. Despite batting with a runner due to a leg injury, the ubiquitous Ashley Caddy produced a brave knock to give the visitors hope after Woodman had completed his tremendous spell. Caddy and Simms (22) both cashed in on some looser bowling before the latter was comprehensively yorked by Bradshaw-Smith who also trapped Steve Batey (1) lbw. Last man Price resisted bravely but was run out as the visitors fell 32 runs short of their target. Skipper Clements said:"Mark bowled magnificently, but it was also the atmosphere on the field that won it for us today. "The early wickets helped, of course, but we were loud and positive and it never went quiet out there." Man of the Match - Mark Woodman.