Seaton powered their way to an emphatic 86-run win at Shaldon in their first Tolchards League C Division (East) outing of the season.

It turned out to be an excellent day for two of the club’s new signings from Axminster, with Joel Seward delivering the goods with the bat and Robbie Prior doing likewise with the ball.

Seaton skipper Ben Morgan lost the toss and was asked to bat. Steve Pritchard (38) and Kev Moran (84) took the score to 69 when Pritchard fell and then Joel Seward joined Moran and they put bat to ball with great effect, adding 117 for the second wicket. Seaward eventually fell for a superb 78 whilst Robbie Prior and Matt Hancock added the late runs to leave Seaton closing on 247-5.

Shaldon got off to a flyer with their run chase, but once Prior saw the end of a 22-ball 43 from the home side’s big-hitting opener, the wickets fell at regular intervals with the final one claimed with the Shaldon total on 162. Prior ended with four wickets for 26 runs and there was a similar haul for Joe Berry, with his coming at a cost of 30 runs. The other two wickets were taken by Phil Collins (2-26).

Morgan said: “If that afternoon’s work is a measure of what we can expect this season then bring it on! We were good in all departments and there’s no doubt that Joel (Seward) and Robbie (Prior) are going to be huge assets to us. One thing that shone through was the spirit amongst the team. Frankly, it was unlike any team atmosphere on and off the square I have seen for some time from a Seaton eleven and if we can maintain the high standards we observed at Shaldon for the bulk of the season then I am confident we will do well. I do think this season will be like last in as much as every team in the section, on their day, is capable of beating anyone else. That means we will need to be on our A game each match day. For me the key to this season is certainly putting out a settled side week in and week out.”