SIDMOUTH’S Under 15 side had to be content with third place in the regional finals of the ECB NatWest competition after losing to eventual winners Yateley in a semi final.

A coach load of supporters joined the team for the games, staged at Weston-super-Mare Cricket Club, where Sidmouth elected to bat after winning the toss against Yateley.

An early blow saw Dan Powell run out for two and the Hampshire side’s bowlers and fielders held sway as Sidmouth moved to 20-2 off seven overs, with skipper Declan Lines bowled cheaply.

Anthony Dibble showed resolve, but he lost Henry Gater, caught behind for 10, as the score moved to 46-3 after 11 overs.

Dibble’s resistance ended in the 17th over when he was out for 22 and Dominic Bess followed for 10 to make it 62-7 after 17 overs.

At the close of their 20 overs Sidmouth had mustered 70-9 against a highly competent side.

It looked insufficient, but Alastair Chilcott gave the side hope by bowling both openers in the first over to make it 4-2.

Dominic Bess, who bowled his four overs of spin with great economy, grabbed a wicket to make it 35-3 after nine overs, but Yateley accelerated away to win on 72-4 after 15 overs.

In the play-off for third place Sidmouth enjoyed a well-contested game against Welsh side Pentyrch, who had been beaten by Bristol in the other semi final.

Powell led the Sidmouth innings by reaching the retirement score of 50 and there were strong contributions from Gater with 38 not out, Lines with 28 and Dibble with 27 in a total of 148-2.

Lines enjoyed bowling figures of 3-3 but Pentyrch fell only 14 runs short of the Sidmouth total when bowled out for 134. Bess’s spin again proved a handful for batsman as he took 3-17. Chilcott took 2-27, Lee Clayden 1-25 and Callum Bray 1-21.

Yateley were crowned regional champions when they disposed of Bristol in the same clinical way they had dealt with Sidmouth, winning by six wickets with five overs to spare when chasing a total of 75.