Saturday, May 17, 2014, was a big day in the history of Ottery St Mary Cricket Club as the newly formed 3rd XI finally made its league debut after two frustrating weekends of cancelled games, writes John Tierney.

The new team, formed to give the younger players in the club the chance to make the transition from the junior ranks to adult cricket, took to the field at Topsham containing one Under-16, four Under-15, two Under-14 and one Under-13 player from the clubs youth ranks.

The senior players wisely left the bowling to the youngsters who all performed with discipline and restricted Topsham to 150 for 7 in their 45 overs. Tom Jeacock, bowling his inswingers, proved the most successful taking three wickets for 24 in eight overs. But it was an excellent all round bowling performance with Albert Southall-Brown taking two wickets and one each for Joe Henkus and Luke Tierney. The enthusiasm of youth showed, particularly in the field with good diving stops and hard chasing on a bobbly outfield all contributing to building pressure on the home side.

The run chase was anchored by a 99 run opening partnership between the ever youthful Barry Flicker (just having celebrated his 60th birthday) and Joe Henkus, 45 years his junior. Henkus set the pace and played some lovely shots, showing timing and balance on a slow wicket to bring up his first senior 50 in 87 balls. Sadly, with the partnership one short of a hundred, the youngster was run out as he failed to keep up with the spritely Flicker between the wickets. Flicker battled on, untroubled by the departure of Henkus, in true Geoffrey Boycott fashion, before being third out with the score on 135, having made his own 50 and with victory pretty much assured. Topsham had some late success claiming twp further wickets, but eight not out from Albert Southall-Brown and the winning run from Luke Tierney meant a winning start and 20 points.

Topsham St James 150-7 (R Ellis 35, N Argyle 23, T Jeacock 3-24, A Southall-Brown 2-33) Ottery St Mary 3rd XI 151-5 (B Flicker 54, J Henkus 51, R Ellis 2-32). Ottery St Mary (20pts) bt Topsham (5pts) by 5 wkts.