Ford and Clifford-Bourne put Bovey on road to win over Ipplepen | 'With Neil Hancock and Sam Wakeham back sitting in the shade at 51 for five, it was just a question of rounding up the rest of the batting line-up' – Jeremy Christophers

Bovey Tracey

By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

BOVEY Tracey’s youthful second team – seven of the members are 22 or younger – defeated Ipplepen by six wickets in a top-of-the-table tussle on the Ashburton Road ground.

Tom Andrew – in at the end for Bovey Tracey \ Photo: ConradcopyIpplepen’s potential danger-men Neil Hancock (16) and Sam Wakeham (0) both departed cheaply to Ollie Clifford-Bourne (3-35) as ball ruled bat early on.

Matt Quartley (23) and Dom Durman (23) hung around long enough to add 32 before Freddie Ford (4-3) cleaned up the lower order in an all-out total of 114.

For leaders Bovey it was a routine chase once openers Sam Taylor (21) and Archie Christophers (32) avoid the peril of stalling on the start line.

Sam Harvey (24no), who went in second wicket down, and Tom Andrew (23) wrapped up the chase.

Jeremy Christophers, the Bovey captain, said it was ‘satisfying’ to beat a team that had been ‘riding high’ in the table for much of the season. His team are top now

Christophers added: “Our young spin attack of Oliver Clifford-Bourne Will Christophers and Freddie Ford bowled well to restrict Ipplepen to 114.

“With Neil Hancock and Sam Wakeham back sitting in the shade at 51 for five, it was just a question of rounding up the rest of the batting line-up.

“Sam Taylor and Archie Christophers gave us a racing start by the time Christophers was out in the ninth over, it just required Sam Harvey and Tom Andrew to knock the ball around. 

“We lost a couple of wickets late-on, but the game is done and dusted by the end of the 26th over.”

Simon Tapley, the cricket manager at Ipplepen, said there were no quibbles about the result.

"Bovey's spinners bowled really well in the middle overs and took seven wickets and it is hard to come back from that. 

“We started badly with the ball and although Neil Hancock and Olly Holroyd bowled very well, and deserved their wickets, we were all over by 4.30."