A hard won victory on the trip to Chudleigh saw Ottery St Mary 2nd XI cement their place amongst the early season pace-setters as their excellent opening to their debut A Division season continued, writes Ian Townsend.

The Otters took full advantage of a poor wicket to shoot the home side out for a sub one hundred total, then dig in to secure a four wicket triumph despite a spirited comeback from their hosts.

Fourteen-year-old league debutant Henry Mutter and fellow teenager Ollie Reed produced fine opening spells to immediately put Chudleigh under pressure with Bob Pickett (3) departing to a catch at the wicket off the latter by Otters’ skipper, Rick Jackson. Rich Reed then continued his terrific debut season with another beautifully controlled spell which saw him bowl Graham Wilson (22) and induce Paul Winsor-Horne (0) to offer a catch to Richard Kitzinger. Andy Robinson and Sam Plum (28) complied as useful 45-run stand but Zac Johns’s excellent spell (2-20) was soon rewarded as he bowled the latter before great fielding by George Southall-Brown saw Robinson run out for fifteen. Two further wickets for Rich Reed without addition to the total saw the home side slip to 83-7. Even occasional bowler, Alex Clements (2-4) came to the party, chipping in with two late wickets, both courtesy of catches by Ollie Reed, as Chudleigh were despatched for 98. Rich Reed’s nine overs yielded an impressive 4-18 but, backed by excellent fielding, the entire visiting attack performed well.

Openers Kitzinger and Harry Conway (20) gave Ottery a sound 28-run start in reply before the latter fell to a catch by Robinson off Matt Bull who also removed Clements, caught by Wilson for a duck. Fourteen-year-old Harry Peters (3) lent sound support to Kitzinger before being stumped off Robinson (3-30) and when the same bowler then ended the remaining Ottery opener’s solid knock at 29 and had Jackson caught for five, the visitors were wobbling at 76-5. However, despite the loss of the experienced Steve Forbes (5), Ollie Reed (20no), who again produced a fine all performance, and Mutter (3no) played with admirable calmness to guide the Otters to a third victory of the season.

Chudleigh 98 (S.Plum 28, G.Wilson 22, R.Reed 4-18, A.Clements 2-4, Z.Johns 2-20) Ottery St Mary 99-6 (R.Kitzinger 29, O.Reed 20*, H.Conway 20, A.Robinson 3-30, M.Bull 2-10). Ottery St Mary (20pts) bt Chudleigh (3pts) by 4 wkts.