A review of local sides from match day four of the Tolchards Devon Cricket League

Seaton were beaten by the narrowest of margins in their Tolchards Devon League B Division game at Thorverton where the home side edged over the wining line with their final par at the wicket in a contest that had its direction changed by the intervention of the weather as Duckworth-Lewis was called into play.

Seaton batted first and closed on a very respectable 238-2 with Matt Hewer scored an imperious unbeaten 125 and skipper Ben Morgan unbeaten on 46.

However, that was not enough to bring Morgan’s men a third win in four early season games as the Thors ended up chasing a revised target of 218 that they reached with their last two batsmen at the wicket. Joel Seward and Nick Paget each claimed three wicket hauls for Seaton.

Whimple sealed a terrific win on their first visit to the County Ground for a C Division East game as they defeated hosts Exeter 2nds by seven wickets. Neil Maud and Devon Nightingale each claimed three wickets as Exeter were bowled out for 138. Cameron Kidd then led the successful run chase with a splendid innings of 85.

Feniton were involved in a second low scoring game in just three weeks when they once again so nearly managed to defend a low total, only to come up short. In their East Devon derby at Kilmington, Feniton, batting first, were bowled out for 99 with only Jon French (31) and Mark Kingdon (16) making any impression with the bat. Tom Gooding (5-29) and Ollie Reed (2-5) did the damage with the ball. However, Feniton, with Chris May (4-32) and Jon Pyle (2-28) claiming wickets, had Kilmington eight down when the home side got over the line. Tom Gooding, adding to his impressive tally of five wickets with the highest score in the run chase of 27.

Upottery bagged a third win of the D Division East season and they are up to third, the highest ranked 1st XI side in the section with only Heathcoat 2nds and Exmouth 2nds above them in the table after they won by six wickets against Sandford 2nds.

The visiting Creedy Park men were restricted to 192-8 with Andrew Pulman (3-11) and Paul Wakefield (2-27) doing the damage with the ball before Jack Larcombe (63) and James Mitcham (46no) guided the Glebe Park men home.

Uplyme and Lyme Regis remain rock bottom of the D Division East table, but they have ended their early run of three straight defeats after a five wicket win over North Devon 2nds.

Tyler Wellman (3-20) and Ewan Pedder (3-17) combined to help bowel out North Devon for 124 and then opener Jed Whittington top scored with 44 before an unbeaten hit an unbeaten 38 from the bat of number six Bruce Maltby and 25 not out fro number four Laurie Thomas saw Uplyme to victory. Maltby joined Thomas at the wicket with the run chase on 52-5, but the pair then saw their side home, adding 74 for the unbroken sixth wicket.

Chardstock slipped to a second defeat of the campaign when they were beaten by table topping Heathcoat 2nds who batted first and scored 267-8. Rob Hutchings (3-43) and Rob Pyman (3-15 from nine terrific overs) each claimed three wicket hauls for Chardstock who replied with 173 all out.

In E Division East, Axminster picked up maximum points with a 107 run win over Woodbury and Newton St Cyres. Dylan Hurst (71) and Andrew Guppy (61), played big parts in the Axe men’s final total of 251-8 – Max Felgate chipped in with 29 and there were 30 extras. Woodbury and Newton St Cyres were then bowled out for 141 with Alex Wraight (3-16), Felgate (3-31) and Dave Field (2-41), claiming the bulk of the wickets. James Pyman (45) and Tom Warren (40) offered the best of the batting efforts as the Chardstock reply saw them bowled out for 173.

Honiton were two wicket winners in their E Division East game at Sampford Peverell and Tiverton where they bowled out the Mid Devon men for 113 with Corey Lapping taking four wickets for 35 runs. Honiton lost eight wickets in the run chase, but it did not stop them ending the home side’s 100 per cent record.