Whimple’s Hope claims 5-7

Axminster consolidated their B Division mid-table berth with a Cloakham Lawn winning draw against Clyst St George.

Batting first, Ben Fuzzard (41no), Dan Murnane (32), Ryan Walker (27) and, what proved to be a crucial 30 extras, helped Axminster to 177. The visitors, who arrived sitting third bottom, made an excellent fist of the run chase, coming up just short on 163-9. Alex Rockett (3-23), Alex Wraight (2-24), Nick Taylor (2-33) and Robbie Prior (2-33), all claimed wickets.

The 14 points that Axminster banked sees them sitting comfortably mid-table. This weekend Axminster travel to second from bottom Cockington.

Seaton responded to skipper Mike Wheeler’s prompting of the previous week to produce a much improved display, coming within a whisker of being only the second team to defeat Hatherleigh this term in the C Division.

Ben Morgan (5-51) and Joest Kroesen (3-43) combined to great effect to bowl the hosts out for 177. Then Ben Copp struck an unbeaten 49 and, together with Martin Bray (35) and Richard Warner (22), took the team to within a single blow of the home score when the reply closed on 173-7. Seaton, with six to play, sit 46 points adrift of the second placed side and 34 above second from bottom Plymouth Civil Service who they visit this coming Saturday.

Things look much rosier at Acland Park after Feniton claimed a maximum points haul with victory over Uplyme in a match played at Chardstock CC.

John Pyle was the star of the show as he sent down 13 overs and claimed 5-18 to help bundle out Uplyme for 117. Bruce Maltby (39) and Ashley Caddy (28), were the only batsmen to make an impression.

Daniel Clarke, promoted from the club’s 2nd XI to open the bowling, sent down 11 superb overs and took 2-30 and there was also a brace of wickets for Russ Whitton.

Mark Salter hit a half century before he became the only wicket to fall in the successful run chase. Salter fell to Ben Strong leaving Jamie Easterbrook (42no) and skipper Mark Kingdon (14no) to see Feniton safely over the line and that priceless haul of points. Kingdon said: “Clarke took his chance impressively, he bowled well and the promotion of Jamie Easterbrook from the 2nd XI was also fully justified as he batted well in what were not the easiest of conditions. The win certainly helps in our bid to get away from the danger area. We have what I’d call two very winnable games next, taking on Halberton this Saturday, and bottom side Whitchurch after which I’d certainly hope our league position will make much better reading.”

In a tightly congested division Kingdon’s men remain just 10 points clear of the drop zone, but the next two games offer the chance to increase that margin significantly.

Ottery St Mary registered their most impressive victory of their season as they became only the second side to defeat promotion chasing Ashburton, beating the visitors by a single wicket thanks to a bye run off the final delivery of an enthralling encounter.

Ashburton had been put in and were bowled out for 153 as Will Harrison (4-26) and Robert Bradshaw-Smith, with a brace, did the damage with the ball.

The same pair then turned batting heros as they were the home batsmen at the crease when the victory was sealed.

After a fine 38 from Jack Pritchard, wickets fell along the way but the home side kept up with the run rate. The final ball over saw Bradshaw-Smith (34no) facing, with Harrison (5no) at the other end, the pair ran a bye to seal victory.

The win puts 18 points between the Otters and the drop zone. Next up is a visit to Tiverton.

The Mid Devon derby at Tiverton where Halberton were the visitors, proved the reverse of the early season meeting between the sides.

That time Halberton won the game on their Sampford Peverell pitch so revenge was sweet for Tiverton and for John Hall who struck a four to seal victory with only himself and Mark Hutchinson remaining not out for the home side as they closed on 158-9 in reply to the Halberton offering of 155-7.

Dale Barker top scored for the visitors with 36 whilst Jerry Turner chipped in with 29. Richard Pugsley (3-31) and Jason Parr (2-26) were the principle wicket takers for the hosts who then had a fine 44 from Tim Reed and a knock of 26 from Jerry Kelland, to set them up for that late Hall boundary and a single wicket win.

Whimple’s Phil Hope has taken a liking to bowling against Roborough this season. When the sides met at Roborough in an early season E Division game, Hope bowled a hat-trick and claimed 4-27 as the home side were bowled out for 87, knocked off for the loss of two wickets by Whimple.

The return, in East Devon, was over even quicker as Hope claimed 5-7 including two wickets in two balls, but could not repeat the hat-trick of early May. The visitors were bowled out in just 21 overs for 57 with the other wicket takers for the home side being Chris Palfrey (3-15) and Will Cleal (2-22).

The run chase was done and dusted in 15 overs without loss of wicket thanks to Mike Searle (22no) and Ben Silk (27no) and the stumps were drawn just before 4.30pm!

Whimple skipper Jono Burden said: “This sets us up nicely for the big one against Countess Wear next week. We could not be in better shape going into the big one. Clearly the season does not hinge on Saturday’s game but it does present a great opportunity for the winners of the game to take a huge advantage into what will be just five more games to play after out Saturday showdown.”

The East Devon derby at Upottery, where Kilmington were the visitors, ended with honours relatively even, although the visitors would have been slightly the happier as they took 14 points to the hosts’ 10.

Dave Field (53), John Lavender (52) and Dave Cook (35), all chipped in to help Kilmington to 221-7. Gary Kennard claimed 4-73 and Matt Frost bagged a brace for Upottery who made a decent fist of the run chase before closing on 213-7. Thomas Wyatt continued his excellent form with a top score of 59, Ollie Rice struck 29 and skipper Stewart Drew hit an unbeaten 26. Ben Noble was the most successful of the Kilmington bowlers with 4-53.

F Division leaders Honiton had their Mountbatten Park game with Newton St Cyres all over before 3.30pm as they bundled the visitors out for just 21 in 18.2 overs and then took just 20 deliveries to wrap up a nine wicket win. Phil Tansley took seven wickets for just four runs in nine overs and the other home wicket takers were Adam Homes (1-7) and Kev Kelly (1-0). George Meadows was out without troubling the scorers but then Bradley Groves (14no) and Pete Matravers (7no), saw Honiton to their early win.

Yarcombe were beaten in their F Division mid table meeting at home to Cullompton where they bowled the Mid Devon side out for 201 but were bundled out themselves for 134. Mike Barnes claimed 4-35 for the home side but, in reply, only Simon Durrant and Dave Copp, who both scored 32, made any impression. This weekend Yarcombe travel to Chelston.