After a week off due to rain, Tipton St John met Exeter team Geriatrics on Saturday, writes Phil Wright.

Tipton were inserted on a soft pitch and struggled to get going, writes.

After a bright start by Adam Gibbins he went once too often for the aerial route and was caught and bowled by Giles for 16!

That began a period of demise during which time Tipton lost four more wickets for the addition of 31 runs and it was only Alex Tubbs who gave the visiting bowlers any trouble.

David Birch tried to stay with him, but was bowled by Dyer for six and then only Jack Roberts was able to keep Tubbs company for any period of time.

Tubbs reached his half century before Roberts was at last bowled for a 33-ball stay at the wicket that saw him score nine.

He was soon joined back in the dressing rooms by Tubbs who saw his magnificent innings of 59 ended by a fine catch.

That all left Tipton posting what was clearly a below-par total of 112.

Defending such a low total early wickets were a must for Tipton and they got them thanks to opening bowlers David O’Higgins and David Birch who each removed an opener without either scoring a run!

However, Geriatrics had no further alarms apart from two dropped catches by Tom Birch and reached 73 before Tom Birch did take two wickets by holding catches off his own bowling to peg Geriatrics back to 80-4.

That was as good as it got for Tipton as an unbeaten 44 from Matt Hawkes saw Geriatrics to a six wicket win.

Sadly, the much anticipated local derby encounter with neighbours Newton Poppleford was cancelled on Sunday due to rain.