For the second week running Tipton St John were looking to be without a fixture due to the opposition being unable to raise a side until West Monkton from Somerset came to their rescue as a late replacement, writes Phil Wright.

Sidmouth Herald: Tipton St John batsman David Thayre in action against West Monkton. Picture: PHIL WRIGHTTipton St John batsman David Thayre in action against West Monkton. Picture: PHIL WRIGHT (Image: Archant)

Asked to bat first by skipper Dave Alford, the visitors were soon in trouble at 14-3. Octogenarian David O’Higgins took a sharp catch at slip to remove Tom Sweet for one off Alford’s bowling, then David Birch bowled Dave Cole and Mike Allen in quick succession.

O’Higgins, showing that he was certainly back to his best with the ball, then bowled Scot Oxley for 13 to complete a superb eight over spell that saw him concede just 26 runs.

A partnership of 95 between Stuart Thompson (61) and Ned Aspden (37) in 22 overs helped the score to 127 before a late flurry of runs and wickets saw the visitors close on 168-8.

The returning Birch (3-23) and Alford (4-37), assisted by a catch by Amelia Tolley, profited with late wickets.

In the home reply, there was the loss of an early wicket when Al Matthews was bowled for two, but Phil Tolley and David Thayre then put together a partnership of 74 and took the reply on to 90-2.

However, the innings wobbled when Thayre was caught for 26, followed by Keith Collins (0) and Rob Stirling (2), but by now the relentless Tolley had reached his half century.

Jim Bugler, making his first appearance for two years, scored 16, by which time victory was in sight.

Despite good bowling and fielding by West Monkton, it was Tipton who took the match honours and fittingly it was a Tolley boundary in the last over that saw the win confirmed and the evergreen batsman left the field with his wicket still intact having scored a splendid 85.