Ottery St Mary made the long trip to Bideford for their latest Tolchards Devon League B Division game.

The Otters were always ‘up against it’ facing the Divisional leaders who had won eight of their 11 matches – one abandoned and two lost – of their opening 11 games whilst the Otters ventured north still looking for their first win of the league campaign.

Bideford won the toss and, on a day when the weather looked certain to play a part ion the proceedings, wasted little time in inviting the visitors to bat.

Dan Flower and Daniel Jeacock launched the innings, but Flower was caught and bowled for three, with the score on three.

Jody Clements was next man in – and out – the first of eight Ottery batsmen who were caught out on the day – and he departed for what was to be the teams highest individual offering of 11 with the score then 20-2.

Rob Crabb was in at four and he scored nine before he was caught with the score on 39 and it was soon 39-4 with the loss of opener Jeacock for 10. The dismissal of Harry Conway, for three, left the Otters 41-5.

George Southall-Brown was dismissed next, in his case for five and, when Eddie Rudolph joined him back in the Bideford pavilion, Ottery were 54-7. The wickets of Albert Southall-Brown (2) and Tom Jeacock (0), both fell with the total on 60 and the final wicket mustered a further three runs before Sam, Brook (7), was last man out with Ottery bowled out for 63 in 34.1 overs.

Bideford’s reply suffered an immediate blow with Tom Jeacock holding a catch to give Will Harrison the one wicket the Otters took. That left the reply 2-1, but there were to be no further Ottery successes with the ball as Bideford sailed home to complete a nine wicket win in 14.2 overs.

Ottery are now 60 points from safety at the foot of the B Division and there remain six games to go with 120 points up for grabs.

This Saturday (July 29), the Otters host another promotion chasing outfit, Tavistock.