Sidmouth 2nds signed off another Francis Clark Devon League home programme with a tenth straight success when they put Bovey Tracey to the sword at Fortfield.

The penultimate game of the 2013 season was settled decisively in Sidmouth’s favour when a five-wicket burst from skipper Charlie Dibble enabled his team to record a comfortable 65-run victory.

Dibble’s five wickets finished what he had started when Bovey, batting second and chasing Sidmouth’s total of 233, got off to a shocking start as his direct hit ran out their opener. This was immediately followed by a second run out courtesy of a significant mix up which accounted for the Bovey danger man, Jamie Fulner.

The two run outs left Bovey at 13-2!

Remaining batsmen Woollcott and Steer blazed away aggressively, but each played one shot too many against Nick Mansfield to give catches to Fionn Wardrop and Dec Lines.

On the day the Sidmouth catching was of the highest order and the most spectacular of many held was the one by Dibble, taking one over his shoulder to help Dom Bess remove Tim Robinson who made an aggressive 46.

Further excellent catches followed; two for Saj Patidar, one for Matt Hewer and a second for Dec Lines to seal the match and give Dibble his fifth wicket and match figures of five wickets for 16 runs from 6.2 overs.

Earlier, having won the toss Sidmouth opted to bat first and were once again indebted to Matt Hewer who made 87 and underpinned the Sidmouth total of 233. Hewer shared the biggest stand of the day, a confident and comfortable 111, with Dom Bess who made 44.

When this pair was parted the score stood at 119-2 with 19 overs remaining. Given this good start the final total of 233 for 9 was slightly disappointing and credit for this goes to Bovey bowler J Bishop who tempted a succession of batsmen to take on the short boundary into the wind, only to see their shots fall short into the hands of Bovey’s fielders. Bishop finished with exceptional figures of 6-30 and only Greg Chaplin and Henry Gater, who both made 20, made much headway.

A 20-point haul was earned which leaves Sidmouth 11 points adrift of Exeter II with only one game left to play.

Saturday’s final match day sees Sidmouth travel to a Chudleigh II side that needs ten points to be certain of staying up whilst Exeter II are at Plymouth where a dozen points for the County Ground outfit will leave Sidmouth settling for the runners-up spot.