Matchday seven of the 2018 Tolchards Devon League was a special one for a number of teams – and players – from local clubs.

In individual terms, no one had a better day than Honiton opening batsman Dave Haysom who struck an unbeaten double century in the Mountbatten Park men’s E Division East 173-run win over Bideford, Littleham and Westward Ho! 2nds. Haysom, who opened the innings, was still there at the close with his personal score being 208 not out as his team closed on a whopping 357-5 and then bowled the North Devon side out for 184.

It was a special day too at Seaton where the home team responded to criticism from skipper Ben Morgan after the previous weekend’s defeat to see off second in the table Barton. Captain Morgan played his part with a four wicket haul and an unbeaten 26 in a four wicket win. A delighted Morgan said: “The lads were superb and I wish to give special praise to bowlers Kersley Sutton and Joe Berry, who bowled the middle overs, played a big part in us bowling them [Barton] out for a sub 200 score. The fielding was excellent and then we timed the chase well. It’s a big win and sets up nicely for Saturday’s trip to Plymstock.

Kilmington claimed another top scalp when they defeated Exeter II by four wickets in a C Division East game. After sticking the City side in, Kilmington skipper Brett Garner saw his bowlers restrict the visitors to a total of 212-7 and then his top three batsmen all hit half centuries to see the villagers to victory.

Garner said: “It was another terrific all-round show and for me, what was particularly pleasing, was to see Matt Rockett back in the runs. He has been low in confidence of late, but this innings will have done him a power of good.”

Feniton skipper Jon Pyle confessed to being ‘very surprised’ when opposite number, Ben Silk, won the toss and decided his Whimple team, at home, would bat first.

The plan back fired as Whimple were bundled out for 115 with Matt Davies getting three wickets and then an unbeaten 40 from number three bat Mark Kingdon saw Feniton to a six wicket win. Skipper Pyle said: “I was really pleased when Ben [Whimple skipper Ben Silk] chose to bat, I was always going to bowl first given what looked excellent conditions for bowlers.”

Whimple skipper Silk lamented: “In hindsight I got it wrong! They [Feniton] bowled well, but we did not, with the exception of Cameron Kidd, help ourselves in the batting effort with some daft shots.”

Upottery skipper Mark Joyce was another captain to lament his teams batting as the Glebe Park men suffered a second successive defeat, going down by 42 runs on their visit to Clyst St George.

The Bohea Field men batted first and were restricted to 218-7 which Joyce felt represented a good effort from his bowlers. He said: “The lads bowled well and I felt, at tea, that we could chase that total down.”

However, not for the first time this season one or two of the Upottery batsmen got in – and got out before going on to make the big individual contributions such a run chase usually needs.

The end result was Upottery being bowled out for 176. Joyce said: “Once again we have been our own worst enemies with the bat. It has happened too many times already this season that players have got themselves in but not been able to then go on and convert ‘being in’ to a big individual knock. It’s not something we have had too much trouble with in the past and I know we have it in our locker, so hopefully normal business with our batsmen will be resumed soon!”

Axminster were five wicket winners in their meeting with an Exwick side they bowled out for 160, a total they passed with comfort. Dylan Hurst was the stand-out Axeman with, first a three wicket haul and then he led the run chase with a splendid unbeaten 80.

Chardstock were winners for the fifth time in seven D Division East outings and are up to third behind the two 2nd XIs at the top of the table. They bowled Uplyme and Lyme Regis out for 142 – four wickets for Gary Larcolmbe and three for Alex Watson, and then a knock of 32 from Steve Allsopp and one of 31 from Ed Brown saw them home. Skipper Rob Hutchings said: “It was another solid all-round display and, with availability set to be much better between now and the season’s end, to see us sitting third is all very pleasing.”