Ottery St Mary have endured a torrid start to their Tolchards Devon League B Division season and find themselves bottom of the table with 16 points, nine shy of third bottom Filleigh three games into an 18 game campaign.

They were a man light for their match day three, home game, against a Bideford side that top the fledgling table.

With rain hitting the area a 30-overs-per-side contest was played.

Bideford batted and opener Matt Shepherd top scored with in the visitors 45 in what

Dan Jeacock (3-38), was the most successful Ottery bowler and mention must be made also of the efforts of Ollie Reed (2-17) and Jody Clements (2-18), who kept the scoring down in the middle overs.

The Ottery reply floundered on 95, the final wicket being lost in the penultimate over.

Jody Clements top scored for the Otters with 21.

It already looks like being a long tough season for the Otters and match day four sees them end the first month of the season with a trip to Tavistock.

Tavvy have won one, lost one and

Ottery, who are rock bottom and already 16 points adrift, are away to Tavistock.

Tavvy enjoyed a day one win over Bideford, had their match day two meeting with Thorverton washed out when in a strong position and were narrowly beaten at Barton by two wickets in a 30-over rain-hit game last weekend.