Premier round-up: Heathcoat within touching distance of lifting Premier title | 'We need six points against Exeter to win the title and I am quite relaxed about it' – skipper Pete Randerson

Heathcoat

HEATHCOAT are within touching distance of the Tolchards DCL Premier Division title with just one game left to play and a handful of points needed to be certain of winning it.

Although Heathcoat did not get to finish their game against Bovey Tracey last time out, league rules mean they picked-up more than 17 points just for turning up.

Peter Randerson, the Heathcoat captain, has been doing the sums and knows exactly what’s needed against Exeter this Saturday to be confirmed as champs.

“We need six points against Exeter to win the title and I am quite relaxed about it,” said Randerson.Heathcoat's Jack Menheneott leaps past umpire Ray Allen

Joe Hancock celebrated his call-up to play for Devon against Shropshire at Sidmouth with three early wickets at Bovey tumbled to 58 for six.

Matt Hague, who had an 11th-hour summons to play for Devon in the same game, kept the pressure on with a miserly spell of one for 13 in five overs. Jack Menheneott, Tom Hatton and Jamie Drew all operated at less than four an over.

Seb Ansley (42) and Peter Bradley (41) rescued Bovey from total embarrassment with a stand of 67 for the seventh wicket. Elliot Acton’s 21 off 26 balls took Bovey most of the way to their eventual total of 182 for nine in 48 overs.

A break for rain meant Heathcoat were given a DLS revised target of 161 to win in 37 overs and were 61 for four when the heavens opened over the Recreation Ground.

Openers Randerson (20) and Rob Holman (29) were the leading run getters before the weather intervened early in the 19th over.

SANDFORD lost to Plymouth by 59 runs in the only Premier Division game to go the distance – and that defeat wrote-off their hopes of winning the league title once and for all.

Heathcoat, who were rained-off at Bovey Tracey, remain top of the table on 17.82 average points and only need a handful against Exeter this Saturday to retain the title they won in 2019.

Richard Foan, the Sandford captain, conceded the title has gone, but remains unhappy about the methodology used by the league concerning Covid-19 cancellations – and the unintended consequences for clubs who are unable to fulfil fixtures through no fault of their own.

“Let's hope next season will see the best team win the league all based on who plays the best cricket,” said Foan.

“We will enjoy our last game and celebrate the season after.”

Conceding the title was not the only painful experience for Foan as he had to be treated in hospital after taking a direct hit on the forehead while batting against Plymouth.

“It was the first ball from Plymouth’s tall Aussie Peter Lojszczyk and was pretty nasty,” said Foan.

“Fast bowlers were unable to bowl for Plymouth as the pitch was deemed too dangerous, but we continued to play.” 

Heathcoat's Joe Hancock bends his back against Bovey TraceySandford pacer Trevor Anning (2-25) gave Plymouth’s early order a few things to think about, but Hal Kerton (53) and Faizan Riaz (20) saw him off and the score started to creep up.

Rob Bennett (40) stuck around at one end in stands worth 136 as Plymouth built a total. Stephenson (49) and Sam Stein (17) played supporting roles.

Sandford’s seamers had little luck – Anning was the only one to take more than one wicket – but spinners were more effective … after a fashion.  Foan and Jono Campbell hovered around four an over while Ricky Hopwood picked up three wickets for 43 runs, admittedly at more than seven an over.

Sandford’s top order came off second best against Dan Goodey (2-13) and Peter Lojszczyk (2-36) as 23 for three deteriorated to 46 for five.

Lawrence Walker (39) and Hopwood (41) placed a veneer of respectability on the running total with a stand of 81 for the sixth wicket.

Once Teddy Haffenden (2-13) broke the stand by dismissing Walker it was downhill all the way to 132 all out.

Said Foan: “Plymouth batted very well to be fair and made it very uncomfortable with the ball. 

“We had the worst of the conditions and didn't bowl particularly well, but then we haven't played any cricket for a month. 

“We went from having to get four runs an over to six and a half, which on that wicket was impossible.”

Jon Varcoe, Plymouth’s winning captain, said it was a comprehensive win with lots of contributions.

“Hal Kerton batted superbly again – not for the first time this season – it was great for others to chip in as well to get us up to a good score,” said Varcoe.

“When the rain came the reduced target on a wet pitch was difficult. Our bowlers still did great and bowled in a good area.”

THE basement battle between Hatherleigh and Cornwood had the outcome neither captain wanted – it was rained-off as a no-result game.

Hatherleigh batted for 31 overs and were 80 for five when rain stopped play. Gareth Tidball (20) and Charlie Nielson (16) had the only scores of note for Hatherleigh.

Average points of around nine each did neither side any favours in their efforts to get out of the bottom two.

Four teams – Exmouth (9.31pts), Hatherleigh (9.42), Cornwood (9.70) and Exeter (10.73) – will go into the final round of games this Saturday scrapping for survival. 

Hatherleigh host Exmouth in what will be the tensest of the games. Exeter are away to champs-elect Heathcoat and Cornwood go to Sidmouth.

“It’s going to be a massive weekend for a lot of clubs,” said Hatherleigh captain Mark Lake.