Bovey skipper Hammett content with top-four finish after win over Sidmouth

 Asantha Singappuli

BOVEY Tracey skipper Lewis Hammett said he was content with a fourth-place finish in the Tolchards DCL Premier Division at the end of a ‘difficult’ season.

Bovey were not as hard hit by Covid call-offs or bad weather as some other clubs, although the first team did not play a home game for one reason or another until late June.

A 131-run win over Sidmouth sealed a fourth-place finish behind champs Heathcoat, runners-up Sandford and Plymouth in third.

Said Hammett: “It has been a strange season all round and overall I am happy with how we have done. 

“The top four was our realistic target at the start of the year with a young side that’s learning. It was nice to have the experienced players to rely on as well. 

“It’s been amazing to see our second team finish fourth in the B Division, which shows the strength and quality at the club, which has taken years to get to.

“After what has been a difficult year to manage I think the league management have a few things to think about before next season.”

Bovey’s batters revelled in conditions on the Fortfield, where Abraham Kopparambil (44) and Will Christophers (75) set the tone with an opening stand of 126. Asantha Singappuli (43) and Sam Taylor with a rapid 76 off 42 balls took the total for 276 for six.

Will Murray, playing his first game since 2019, was the only Sidmouth bowler to take more than two wickets. He had three for 61. Luke Raistrick (2-38) and Matt Cooke (0-17) kept the runs down when they bowled.

Former Somerset and Devon batsman Alex Barrow started Sidmouth’s chase with 63, but there was little in the way of support once Cooke departed for 21.

Barrow went at 107 for and after that only Cameron Grainger made much impression as a Sidmouth side with three debutants in it faded to 145 all out.

Spinner Toby Codd was the man of the moment for Bovey with five Sidmouth wickets for 31 runs. Singapulli (3-23) and Ryan Bougourd (2-30) shared the rest.

 Sidmouth finished fifth out of ten in the Premier table, a decent outcome in what skipper Luke Bess described as a ‘transitional’ season.

“Throughout we have had a very inexperienced side,” said Bess.

“Guys like Isaac Thomas, Dylan Hurst and Luke Raistrick have shown they have what it takes to be successful Premier cricketers.

“It's certainly been a different season, and there are no doubt going to be some disgruntled clubs now it's ended. Hopefully next season we can get back to some normality. 

“Congratulations to Heathcoat on their title win. Irrelevant of how the weather and covid cancellations have affected things. In my view they are still the team to beat.”