With injuries, weddings, holidays, cricket finals, rugby and tiddlywinks taking their toll on availability, Sidmouth 3rd XI had just two adult members in the side (plus seven colts and two guest dads ) for the final home game of the season last Saturday

With injuries, weddings, holidays, cricket finals, rugby and tiddlywinks taking their toll on availability, Sidmouth 3rd XI had just two adult members in the side (plus seven colts and two 'guest dads') for the final home game of the season last Saturday at Bicton.

The fact that the opponents were table-topping Hatherleigh made the task that much more difficult, especially as the toss was lost when Hatherleigh captain Ross Cherrington called correctly.

A total of 90 all out was frankly disappointing after being 47 for 0 at one stage. Greg Chaplin (13) and Mike Dibble (26) were the only batsmen to reach double figures.

A number of players showed their potential with some good looking shots but unfortunately they were unable to stay at the crease long enough to get a chance to accumulate more runs.

When Sidmouth bowled, they were unable to apply early pressure with too many extras conceded.

Steve Le Roux was the pick of the bowlers, getting the two wickets to fall at a cost of 11 runs.

The Sidmouth Colts who played were Paris Pinney (u-16) Charlie Miles, Greg Chaplin, Robbie Powell and Jack Hodge (u-14), Jodie Dibble (u-13) and Dan Powell (u-11). Three of them have already played for Devon and I suspect at least one other will as well.

This Saturday sees the last league game of the season with the trip to promotion-chasing Bovey Tracey.

l Finally a big thank you to Andy Pinney on two counts.

Firstly for being the only spectator at the game! Secondly for his help with laying out the tea.

Thanks also to Gill Hodge whose rock cakes are taking on legendary status and to Clive Dwerryhouse, our ever present scorer, who, I am sure would much rather have been watching his beloved Sidmouth RFC secure an impressive win at Exmouth!

Thanks are also due to Colin Whitehall, Peter Cooke and Graham Bess for their hard work on the ground at Bicton this summer.

If only the Bicton cows could be persuaded not to empty the contents of their bowels onto the lane leading to the car park then the perfect setting would be complete!

By Mike Dibble

Sidmouth CC 3rd XI