Charlie Miles starred with bat and ball as Sidmouth under-15s made progress in the National Under-15 Competition courtesy of a win over Chulmleigh, writes Stephen Birley.

Charlie Miles starred with bat and ball as Sidmouth under-15s made progress in the National Under-15 Competition courtesy of a win over Chulmleigh. Given the weather on the way to the game in Chulmleigh the team were all amazed to find that it was dry and the whole game was played without a single raindrop!Sidmouth lost the toss and were put into bat, Charlie Miles and Robbie Powell got off to a solid start, scoring 42 runs for first wicket in 8 overs. Jack Hodge came to the crease and immediately upped the tempo by quickly hitting three fours in three balls before being bowled, going for another big shot, for 22 runs. Tyran Le Roux scored a useful 15 and Sidmouth concluded their 20 overs on exactly 100 for 7 with Charlie Miles top scorer with 23 runs.The best of the bowling for Chulmleigh was from F Sasse taking 2 for 9.Greg Chaplin and Josh Sargent opened the bowling, conceding only 11 runs off the first four overs, when Greg left the field feeling unwell. Charlie Miles replaced Greg and bowled one of his best spells with figures from four overs containing two maidens and a wicket and going for two runs. He was very unlucky not to take more wickets. Andy Green, Tyran Le Roux and Freddie Gardner kept it tight with Chulmleigh completing their 20 overs with a score of 47 for 5. Andy bowled three overs for only six runs and took two wickets while Tyran's four overs went for six as well as taking a wicket. To keep the score down to such a low total the bowlers needed the support of the fielders and this was an impressive display from them. It's a place in the Devon last eight for Sidmouth now as they seek to move through the South West section and hopefully on into the National later stages of this prestigious competition.In the Bradleys Youth League, Axminster met Sandford in an under-11 game and, although they came 'second', they did have lots to smile about post match, not least some fine batting from Lloyd Kennedy and Jack Ainsworth. There were a couple of wickets for seamer Will Lister and one for leg spinner William Lamb, but the biggest talking point was of a splendid catch held at cover point by young Reece Davies. Sadly Axminster's second game of the morning against Woodbury had to be called off as the opposition couldn't raise a side for the fixture. That was also the fate suffered by Upottery in another under-11 contest as scheduled opponents Culmstock also failed to show, citing an inability to raise a side for the game.No such problems for either Whimple or hosts Bradninch who played at Keynsham Park where Whimple were victorious with a score of 161 against the home side's 112.Dylan Fielding led the Whimple wicket-taking with his right arm seam claiming three. There were also wickets for Paul Cranstone (2), Oliver Wellesley and Harvey Lavis, whilst there was a fine catch held by Jack Wellesley. The Whimple run chase, and subsequent victory, was led by Edward Wilson (21) and the other main contributions with the bat came from Paul Cranston and Jack Wellesley. Coach David Fielding said: "It really was a most enjoyable game of cricket to be involved in."Ottery St Mary's under-15s finally started their season with a comfortable win over Kentisbeare.The toss was won by Ottery who put Kentisbeare in to bat on a dry (yes dry!) wicket at Strawberry Lane. The first pair put on 25 before Alex Thurgate bowled Pulman round his legs for six. Wickets steadily tumbled throughout the innings but the mainstay of the Kentisbeare batting was Hobson who retired on 41 with some very impressive shots. The wickets were shared by the Ottery bowlers with one each going to Thurgate, Reed, Gibbins, Bradshaw-Smith and Pritchard. Extras were kept in control and after their allotted 20 overs Kentisbeare finished on 101-6.The Ottery reply started briskly with George Biggs and Jack Pritchard scoring freely to put on 37 in the first seven overs. Biggs then fell to Squire for 11 but Pritchard moved on and stroked 33 before being bowled by Squire at the start of a very mean spell. The back up bowlers couldn't match Squire's efforts though as Peter Nielson and Matt Reed regained the initiative with some excellent running and some lusty blows. Reed lofted a full toss for six into the protective net and hit another four two balls later in one very productive over. Ottery reached their target in the 19th over with Neilson finishing not out on 17 and Reed on an excellent 23. Ottery scored 26 points with Kentisbeare on 13.Seaton Under-11s, captained by George Dowse, travelled to a wet and slow pitch at Budleigh on Sunday where they bagged yet another victory.Having won the toss Budleigh elected to bat first. Seaton's opening bowling attack of Todd Lewendon and Lewis Cottam kept the Budleigh batsmen from scoring too many - by the eighth over two more wickets had fallen with only 18 runs scored. Budleigh made a good recovery from this point with the assistance of Mr Extras and some tired fielding in the outfield which was heavy going. Budleigh achieved 59 runs off their allotted 20 overs. Impressive bowling was achieved by Ollie Aplin (4-2-4-3-), who was assisted by George Harwood (4-1-17- 2), Stuart Wight (2-1-1-0), and Will Richards (2-0-6-0) Johnny House (1-0-5-0) and Reid Mawdsley (1-0-12-1) who made their debut contributions to the team effort. New member Daniel Thomas made his debut for the team in the field and assisted George Dowse and Niall Waterhouse, who both took a catch each. Seaton achieved the set target of 59 runs by the 11th over with the loss of only one wicket. Opener Stuart Wight was retired on 31, having hit 6 fours, at which point Niall Waterhouse (9 not out) and the team wicketkeeper Sam Riley (4 not out) took the team to the finish line!Budleigh Salterton duo Matt Pyle (40) and Matt Rockett (25) were the main contributors in a total of 120 against Ottery St Mary in an Under 13 game. Budleigh also had a cameo knock from Jack Ward (7) before Dan Fuzzard produced some superb bowling, taking 2-1 in three overs of controlled seam bowling that, together with some accurate leg spin from James Dunford which produced a brace of wickets, saw the Ottery reply restricted to 85-9. Young Dunford also made his mark in the field with two smart catches at midwicket.There was no luck for Budleigh Salterton and Sidmouth when their Under- 13 game fell foul of a waterlogged surface and the same fate befell the Under-17 tie between Feniton and Upottery.There was play in an Under-11 hard ball pairs game at Clyst Hydon where Ottery St Mary won by 16 runs. Josh Loud and George Southall-Brown put on 13 with nine singles off the bat, no mean feat at this level, in their time together and the late runs came from the combination of Jack Roberts and Jack Katene, who scored 18, although in their case just three came from the bat. Ottery closed on 146 and then, with Jack Roberts (1-13), Harry Payne (1-8), Tom Hinch (1-11) and Southall-Brown (2-5), the hosts finished with a total of 130. Tom Gurney was the OSM 'man of the match' with fine wicketkeeping.