For the second week in succession a trip to South Devon saw Ottery St Mary 2nd XI crush woeful opposition as they ruthlessly despatched Brixham 2nd XI by ten wickets, writes Ian Townsend.

Shorn of former Barton and Devon all-rounder, Andy Pugh, Brixham appeared to be a rudderless ship which was sunk without trace as the Otters wrapped up victory before tea.

After the home side won the toss and elected to bat, their top order capitulated with alarming ease as young paceman Alex Tubbs claimed four early wickets. Well supported by left armer Joe Birch, who opened with four excellent maidens, Tubbs saw Mike Barron well held by a diving Harry Conway at cover, Tom Hopper pouched by Zac Johns at mid-off and Rhys Dallow caught by Ed Fowler in the gully as the top three all departed for ducks. Sam Thomas (0) was then castled by a good one from Tubbs (4-18) as Brixham crashed to an eye-watering 1-4 after 5.4 overs! Sanity was briefly restored as Scott Eaves and Adam Edwards (26 with five fours) posted a well-constructed 50 run stand in 11 overs before the latter was bowled by promising young all-rounder, Billy Rudolph. Steve Meech (6) was castled by a beauty from Rudolph (2-9) before left armer Johns claimed 4-3 in 4.1 overs to wrap up the innings. Amanda Higginbotham (0) was removed by a particularly good delivery and Eaves’s 71 ball vigil ended at 29 (three fours). Brixham had limped to a paltry 78 from 27 overs with no less than seven players failing to trouble the scorers!

After Fowler (9*) was forced to retire hurt due to a hand injury, Rudolph and Alex Clements knocked off the runs in untroubled fashion as the Otters cruised home in just the fifteenth over. Rudolph’s undefeated 30 (five fours) was constructed in typically correct fashion, featuring a number of beautifully executed straight drives, whilst Clements’s 21 was a characteristically solid effort.

Despite the weakness of the opposition, this was a clinical display by the Otters who will go into this weekend’s potentially promotion deciding showdown with Sidmouth 3rd XI in good spirits.

Otters’ Man of the Match – Billy Rudolph.

Brixham 78 (S Eaves 29, A Edwards 26, A Tubbs 4-18, Z Johns 4-22, B Rudolph 2-9) Ottery St Mary 79-0 (B Rudolph 30*, A Clements 21*). Ottery St Mary (20pts) bt Brixham (0pts) by 10wkts.