All three Sidmouth teams were winners on matchday five of the Tolchards Devon League cricket season and that means the collective club record after 15 matches this term is played 15, won 13 and lost just two.

The 1st XI were too powerful for Bradninch. On what looked another superb Fortfield batting track, Bradninch won the toss and wasted not time deciding to bat first, but lost wickets at regular intervals as Zach Bess claimed a ‘fivefer’, finishing with figures of 5-24 from just 7.5 overs. Josh Bess began the rout, clean bowling visiting skipper - and Devon colleague – Gary Chappell for one in his second over. Bradninch never recovered from having half their side back in the Fortfield pavilion with just 58 runs on the board and, although the tail wagged a little, they were bowled out for 117 in one ball shy of 35 overs.

With Liam Lewis having announced his departure in midweek, Matt Cooke was restored to the opening berth, but both he and Josh Bess fell early to leave the home side 23-2 and it was soon 49-3 following the loss of Aviwe Mgijima for 12. However, Zach Bess joined Luke Bess to add 45 for the fourth wicket which was that of the skipper for 40 and it was left to Dec Lines to join Zach Bess to see the home side over the line with six wickets and almost 23 overs to spare.

The win moves Sidmouth up to third in the table and, Exeter beating Exmouth at the Maer in the Premier Division’s battle of the top two, the Fortfield men are now just a dozen points off top spot.

Sidmouth 2nds

Talking of summit positions, Sidmouth 2nds made it five outings and five wins in their C Division East campaign. Batting first at the County Ground, Exeter, Sidmouth were led to an imposing total of 265-7 with Henry Gater scoring a superb 111 and Isaac Thomas continued his fine form with a knock of 61. Thomas and Nick Mansfield (25) put on 90 for the first wicket and then Gater and Thomas took the score to 141 before Thomas fell. Byron Knowles joined Gater and they saw the side beyond 200 before Knowles fell for five with the score 215-3. Skipper Anthony Griffiths chipped in with 21as Sidmouth posted that impressive run-a-ball total.

Post tea it was the home batsmen who enjoyed a good batting strip at the County ground with the openers putting on 63 before second change Ben Sapiecha – who joined Sidmouth from Exeter during the close season – made the break through thanks to a Byron Knowles catch.

Two wickets then followed in quick succession with Charlie Dibble the successful bowler – one with a Henry Gater catch and the other with a stumping by Ed Hurley.

Jash Patidar then bagged a brace – again catching was the key with Gater and Sapiecha showing ‘safe hands’ – and the home side were five down for 227 runs.

Isaac Thomas was introduced as the fourth change and he claimed three wickets for 19 runs in a cameo of 3.1 overs and teenager Knowles, who opened the bowling, returned to knock the stumps over as the Exeter reply closed on 262-9 to leave Sidmouth winners by a margin of three runs.

Sidmouth 3rds

Completing another ‘full-house’ of success for the club were the third XI, who sit proudly atop the F Division East table after a whopping 219 run win over basement side Shobrooke Park 2nds.

Batting first at the hosts picturesque home – there’s a cricket bat carved from a tree trunk on the boundary – Sidmouth 3rds powered their way to an imposing total of 289-5 with Louis Adey scoring his maiden century – finally out for 113 – while Saj Patidu also scored a century – his knock was only ended after he had chalked up his 110th run. Patidar and Adey came together after the loss of opener of Thomas Moore, bowled for 24 with the score on 57-1, and the pair added 201 for the second wicket, before Patidar was caught off the 96th delivery he faced having rifled 11 fours and no fewer than six sixes. Jordan Fowler was next man in – and out – bowled for seven with the score then 258-3 and the Adey innings ended to the 99th delivery he faced. Adey hit a dozen fours and slammed three sixes and he departed with the Sidmouth score on 289-4. That was also the score when Wes Holmes became the fifth and final wicket to fall with Sidmouth closing on 289-5.

After tea, the Sidmouth bowlers took charge and it was club chairman Fionn Wardrop, who took the honours with his splendid return being three wickets for just 11 runs from a full complement of eight overs. There were two wickets each for Wes Holmes (2-33 from six overs), Toby Seldon(2-5 from 4.4) and George House (2-18 from five). The other bowler used, Jordan Fowler (1-1 from two) as Shobrooke Park were bowled out for 70 in 25.4 overs.