Upottery seconds caught with trousers down as senior side take their buttons!

Upottery began the day in second place in the E Division but ended it out of the promotion places after they were humbled by seven wickets by visiting Kentisbeare.

Ollie Rice (51) and Thomas Wyatt (22) were the main scorers for Upottery who were also boosted by no fewer than a half century of extras in their total of 178 all out, passed for the loss of just three wickets by the visitors.

Upottery were not helped by the fact that strike bowler Dan Broom was taken ill on the morning of then match leaving Matthew Button-Stephens to step up from the second team.

Skipper David Woolacott said: “We were very poor, but then we were without a front line bowler after Dan Broom fell ill. That said, we had enough to do a job but collectively failed.”

If it was bad for the senior side it was even worse with the seconds who were humbled at Seaton II where they were bowled out for 148 with only Mark Joyce, who hit two 6s in a fine half century, and Jack Trevisick (28) amongst the runs. Dan Prettejohn’s side then had to admire the immaculate innings played by the hosts John Waterhouse who stroked a superb century seeing his side to a four wicket win.

Prettejohn said: “They spanked us good and proper on the day but had we had Matthew Button-Stephens who was a late call up for the first’s I fancy we may have got a lot closer to them.”

On Saturday Upottery make the long trip to North Devon to face leaders Filleigh.