Heathcoat 2nd XI send Kilmington spinning to first defeat of the season | Pryke and Reynolds put skids under Killy top order | I thought Tom Reynolds and Pryke were outstanding with the new ball and having them 16 for four at one point which says it all r

Heathcoat captain Matt Hodson – two wickets in the win over Kilmington

KILMINGTON lost for the first time this season, but remain top of the table, after Heathcoat 2nd XI defeated them by 42 runs at Knightshayes.

Heathcoat’s 171 for nine was a bits-and-pieces affair with no one making more than Rob Pryke (43). He went in at 24 for three after early issues dealing with Kilmington seamer Tom Gooding (3-17).

Ed Butler (21), tail-ender Nathan White (23) and Finn Stoneman all chipped in to the final total.

Brett Garner, the Kilmington captain, dealt with resistance from Heathcoat’s lower order on his way to a four-for-40 haul.

Garner must have sensed trouble ahead as his side slumped to 16 for four in reply. Pryke (3-16) outbowled Tom Reynolds (2-34) in the early exchanges.

Ian Gooding dug in for the long haul as Killy fought back – his 72 came off 108 balls and included 10 boundaries – but a stand of 44 was as good as it got.

Wickets fell steadily to Matt Hodson (2-18) and Himanshu Aligh as Kilmington’s innings tailed off at 129 all out.

Having been on the wrong end of the scoreline against Bovey Tracey 2nd XI seven days earlier, it was a result that cheered Heathcoat captain Matt Hodson.

“I was really pleased with our performance,” said Hodson.

“Kilmington bowled well but Ed Butler and Rob Pryke were excellent and gave us a little bit of a platform. 

“Finn Stoneman and Nathan White scored some important runs to get us up to a competitive score. 

“I thought Tom Reynolds and Pryke were outstanding with the new ball and having them 16 for four at one point which says it all really. 

Credit to the Kilmington batters, and Ian Gooding in particular, who made us work hard for their wickets. But I feel that we deserved the win.”

JAMES Hayter stroked a maiden century for Bideford’s first team to help tee-up a 114-run win over visiting Bovey Tracey 2nd XI.

Bideford totalled 289 for six in 45 overs with opener Hayter batting from start to finish for an unbeaten 121. He hit 12 fours and four sixes and shared in stands of 55 with Tom Brend (31), 40 with Oliver Hannam (73) and 38 with brother Julian (20).

Bovey’s bowlers laboured for little reward, although Ben Steer’s three for 38 off nine overs did catch the eye.James Hayter – ton-up kid

Bovey’s batters never really got to grips with the run chase and were all out for 175 in reply.

Opener Derek Perry made 30 and Chris Yabsley hit 31 at run-a-ball rate batting down the order at number nine. Wickets fell in batches with three going between 73 and 95 and three more on 124, 124 again and 125.

There were five wickets for the Ford family: three for dad James (3-18) and two for lad James (2-29). Alex Hannam and James Hayter took two wickets each.

Victory lifted Bideford (120pts) ahead of Bovey Tracey (115) into third place behind Thorverton (132) and Kilmington (126).

THORVERTON found lowly Dartington & Totnes a tougher nut to crack than expected and were relieved to complete a four-wicket win.

The clash between sides at opposite ends of the table – second from top against second from bottom – probably had an inevitable outcome.

It looked that way when D&T were all out for 129, but it was a different story when Thorverton were a wobbly 99 for six in reply.

Three wickets for veteran spinner Chris Cooke and two more for D&T captain Jono Colegate had turned the game around.

Opener Alistair Chillcott was just out for 43, but Tom Diamond was still there on 25.

Diamond and Paul Stirling (21no) ensured no more slips as Thors sealed the win that keeps them second in the table behind leaders Kilmington.

Dave Baldock, whose first-ball dismissal by Cook did Thorverton no favours, said it was a game of two contrasting halves.

“I though we were excellent in the field and with the ball,” said Baldock. “All five bowlers kept things tight and D&T never threatened a big score.

“It was a different story with the bat as we made a meal of the chase.

“At the end of the day we got over the line and the 20 points is what mattered.”

Diamond had a claim for man of the match from a Thorverton perspective as his three-for-33 return from nine overs helped peg D&T down.

There were three wickets too for Dan Robbins (3-16) and a miserly spell of one for 19 from Ben Slaviero, who was acting captain for the day in the absence of Jake Choules.

Alex Hartridge top scored for D&T with 33, Colegate (25) and Joe Parker (20) had the only other scores above eight.

Alex Winch, the D&T wicketkeeper, said it was a ‘frustrating’ day as his side did not cash in when they had opportunities.

“Ultimately it was the old adage of you miss 100 per cent of the chances you don't take' as poor fielding let the game slip away,” said Winch.

“Veterans Chris Cook and Mick Rusling showed age is just a number with a superb spell of bowling each, but I felt we were 30 runs short with the bat.”

PLYMSTOCK came cropper by eight wickets at Chudleigh, which leaves them propping up the B Division table.

James Nicholls, the Plymstock captain, had hoped results would improve for his side thanks to the reappearance of several experienced players.

That was before Plymstock lost two players on the night before the game: Josh Sumner and Fraser Cowan, both of whom went into Covid self-isolation.

Plymstock got into an early mess against Chudleigh’s new-ball attack – Kam Singh (3-16) in particular – and were 30 for five when Jamie Palfreyman (32) joined Olly Mulberry (77) in a stand that added 85 for the sixth wicket.

Tom Mitch (28) kept the board ticking over after the partnership was broken by Luke Quaintance.

Rob Clarke (3-29) spun through the lower order as Plymstock declined to 162 all out.

Opener Adam Kent was the only Chudleigh batter to miss out in a routine run chase led by veteran opener Mark Solway, who is now in his 33rd season as a 1st XI player with the Kate Brook outfit.

Solway (49) and skipper Matt Heather (52no) made an 84-run dent in the deficit. Ed Foreman (33no) was there at the end.

For Chudleigh captain Will Heather it was just the tonic needed after losing to Ipplepen last time out.

“Things clicked much better for us in all three departments,” said Heather.

“A terrific opening display by Kam Singh who bowled brilliantly and was well supported by Mark Russell, got us off to a flyer. 

“We bowled well as a whole and gave them a few chances as well, but still managed to restrict Plymstock to 160. They were at least 50 runs light as it was a really good pitch where you got value for your runs. 

“You couldn't fault the run chase, or a fine display by Mark Solway, and good to see Matt Heather in the runs and a quick cameo from Ed Foreman at the end.

“Hopefully we can get some momentum going and build on this for the next few weeks."

Nicholls remains upbeat about climbing out of the basement, although one thing really ha to change.

“Being able to pick a settled team would really help, which I think we can do this weekend,” said Nicholls.

On the game against Chudleigh, Nicholls said: “Olly, Jamie and Tom Mitch batted really well and gave us something to have a go at

“Unfortunately, we didn't get an awful lot of luck and Chudleigh batted really sensibly.

“Max Thomas bowled really well up front and on another day could have whipped out three or four of their batters.” 

IVYBRIDGE were forced to postpone their 1st XI game against Ipplepen due to a Covid alert that robbed them of 17 senior players.

Steps are being taken to re-arrange the match later in the season.