The Under 17 2015 Season

 

Played

10

Won on first Innings

1

Lost on first innings

2

Won

4

Lost

2

Drawn

1

 

v South & West England Under 15s at Exmouth C.C. – Devon won by 7 wickets but batted on
SOUTH & WEST	161	(K.Szymanski 3-29, T.Codd 3-37)
DEVON	322-5	(D.Pyle 80, T.Lammonby 108, B.Rudolph 57*)
v Millfield at Millfield School – Devon won by 162 runs
DEVON	341-8	(H.Sargent 64, T.Codd 94, D.Pyle 44, W.Thompson 66)
MILLFIELD	180	(D.Goodey 3-49, T.Codd 3-33, M.Petherbridge 3-39)

 

The ECB Cup Competition
v Somerset at the County Ground, Taunton. – Devon won by 116 runs
DEVON	272-7	(H.Sargent 52, D.Pyle 71, T.Lammonby 50*)
SOMERSET	157
v Hampshire at St Cross Symondians C.C. – Devon lost by 5 runs
HAMPSHIRE	217	(D.Goodey 3-29)
DEVON	213	(D.Pyle 69, D.Wolf 40)
v Wales at Carew C.C. – Devon lost by 53 runs
WALES	302-7	(D.Goodey 3-78,
DEVON	250-9	(H.Sargent 94, C.FitzRoy 30, D.Wolf 46)
v Gloucestershire at Heathcoat C.C. – Devon won by 27 runs
DEVON	238-3	(H.Sargent 52, C.FitzRoy 95*, D.Pyle 33)
GLOUCESTERSHIRE	212-9	(D.Goodey 3-48)
The ECB County Championship
v Somerset at Exmouth C.C.  – Devon won on first innings
SOMERSET	159	(K.Szymanski 6-31)
	208-9	(M.Peterbridge 3-35)
DEVON	278	(H.Sargent 115)
v Hampshire at Totton & Eling C.C.– Match Drawn
DEVON	451-7	(C.FitzRoy 47, D.Pyle 241, D.Wolf 39, T.Lammonby 56)
HAMPSHIRE	445-7	(D.Goodey 3-69 )
v Wales at Pentyrch C.C.. – Devon lost on first innings
DEVON	258	(D.Pyle 132, D.Wolf 52)
	50-2
WALES	288
v Gloucestershire at Sandford C.C. – Devon lost on first innings
DEVON	260	(D.Pyle 36, T.Codd 35)
	59-1	(D.Pyle 39*)
GLOUCESTERSHIRE	288	(D.Goodey 3-58, M.Petherbridge 3-52, T.Codd 3-57)

The 2015 Squad

D.Pyle, (captain), C.Cabburn; T.Codd; J.Cann; E.Doble; C.FitzRoy; D.Goodey,. J.Hagan-Burt, T.Lammonby; S.Maunder; M.Petherbridge, B.Phillips; O.Reed; B.Rudolph, H.Sargent, K.Szymanski; W.Thompson; H.Ward; T.Williams; D.Wolf.

The 2015 season brought some new individual and team records, beating some long standing ones. The Captain, Dan Pyle, led from the front setting a personal example as perhaps none of his outstanding predecessors have done.  His return of 773 runs eclipsed David Lye's long standing record of twenty years. A more selfish cricketer would not have been caught on the boundary edge off the pre-determined last over of the two day game with Hampshire as a red inker would have resulted in a season’s average of virtually 86. His 241 was another Devon record and the highest individual score in the 2015 ECB Competition, where he was ranked the number one batsman of the summer. It was not a one man show and there were hundreds from Lammonby and Sargent. The bowlers and fielders also made important contributions with Dan Goodey taking twenty-five wickets and the spinners, Toby Codd and Matt Petherbridge, nineteen apiece.

The summer started with the now annual fixture against the South & West Under 15s. It arrived in an incredibly busy week for the host club Exmouth, who in addition to the normal club fixtures hosted the regional T20 Under 15 Girls’ tournament the previous day and three days later staged a new Minor Counties initiative in their regional T20 Competition - with Devon coming out as winners on all fronts. The ground was in top condition, the forecast good and Sandy Allen led his first pre-match preparation of the summer. It was good to welcome back David Court to Devon, Courty is currently playing a leading part within the ECB as a Performance Manager and played an important role in the review of Devon's County Age Group cricket later in the year. All went very well with the football competitive but more on that later. Daniel Pyle, fresh from his league hundred the previous weekend in one of his last league appearances for Shobrooke Park, won the toss and fielded. His decision proved to be right as the home side’s opening bowlers took early wickets, second ball Ward left a straight one from Goodey to be leg before 4-1, next over under 15s Kasi Szymanski's started badly with four wides, four dot balls and on his fifth legal ball bowled his South and West potential team mate, Price - 8-2. With the first ball of his second over he bowled Bevon - 16-3. The fourth wicket paring of Malik and Matthews had put on thirty-seven in thirty-three minutes off fifty-four deliveries when, off the first ball of his last over, Szymanski had Matthews caught behind by Sam Maunder for 20. The Torquay all-rounder's figures were an impressive 6-0-29-3 and ensured his place at the Bunbury Festival, where he was Bowler of the Festival. It would have been an even more impressive spell if he had not included ten wides. Dan Goodey’s figures were 6-0-28-1. Toby Codd took over at the sea end and served up some full tosses in his first over going for ten before he reined in the batsman with the help of Charles FitzRoy, who took over at the pavilion end. In Codd's fourth over he had Malik caught by Sargent for thirty-six. After twenty overs the South & West were 106-5. Gadd, who finished as the visitor’s highest scorer, had looked in good form and with Malik had put on the highest partnership of their innings fifty-two off fifty-eight minutes. Davies lasted seven balls before Codd trapped him in front - 113-6. FitzRoy limped out of the attack with his new boots winning the tussle with his toes. Matt Petherbridge joined the attack and the two spinners bowled their first spell of the summer together, albeit a short one. Both had moved to Premier League Clubs in 2015 and were being exposed beneficially to a higher level of batting week in week out. One over short of the half way stage Tom Lammonby held Gunning to give the off spinner his third wicket. The visitors were now in some difficulty on 115-7. The side’s fourth under fifteen Tom Williams took over from Codd, who had finished with figures of 7-0-37-3. The eighth wicket added twenty-two off thirty-nine balls with the side’s two left arm spinners both bowling economically. In the thirtieth over Petherbridge got the nod from the umpire trapping Eminson in front. Thirty-nine balls later Petherbridge had top scorer Gadd leg before, two runs past his fifty. Dan Goodey returned to the attack in the fortieth over and with his third delivery bowled Ilyar leaving Devon a target of 162.

The home side’s openers were in a positive frame of mind scoring at better than a run a ball putting on seventy-five off seventy-two balls. In the eleventh over Sargent was bowled by Hadden for twenty. Tom Lammonby, who went to the Bunbury Festival in 2014 a year early, joined his captain and they had advanced the home side’s score to 121 before Pyle was bowled twenty short of his second hundred in the week. His exceptional timing had unsettled his opponents and he hit fourteen fours and a six in his seventy-two minutes at the crease. Dan Wolf, another recent big centurion, lasted twelve balls scoring at a run a ball. He was caught in the twentieth over with Devon twenty-two runs adrift. These were scored by Lammonby and Billy Rudolph, who had reached the nineties the previous Saturday only to be caught behind three short of three figures. The Ottery all rounder gave a couple of early chances but helped Devon reach their first target off the final ball of their twenty-sixth over with the home side having scored at just over sixes. It was agreed that Devon would be set a revised target off the remaining twenty-four overs of 159. Tom Lammonby and Billy Rudolph batted beautifully together putting on a combined partnership of 156 off one hundred and thirty-five balls in sixteen minutes over the hour. Both passed fifty and Lammonby reached three figures in the forty-first over with Rudolph on fifty-five. Lammonby was caught in the forty-third over for 108. He had not done his chances of competing twice at the Bunbury Festival any harm and he went on to be named Batsman of the Festival following his outstanding contributions. In this game he had faced eighty-nine balls, a Nelson in minutes struck and he hit fifteen fours and a six. The limping FitzRoy lasted five balls and after forty-four overs Devon were on 303-9 requiring eighteen off thirty-six balls. This was accomplished off another fourteen deliveries. Thompson flashed and missed a couple but contributed eight. Rudolph, who experienced one of those seasons particularly at Club level, was unbeaten on seventy-five. He batted for ninety minutes facing seventy four balls and hit the ball over the rope on eight occasions.

Overall this had been a promising start and useful preparation for both sides for the summer. The football went to penalties and Sandy Allen put in a post match bid for an Ottery St Mary midfielder who monopolised the closely contested game putting Allen's side under what the coach considered was unnecessary pressure.

What a difference three hundred and thirty-five days make. In 2014 Devon were due to start their competitive programme with a game against Somerset at the Taunton County Ground. The forecast that day of heavy rain was proved to be right and Devon only had the opportunity of experiencing playing at Taunton for fifty-one minutes. This year Somerset very kindly gave Devon a second opportunity of playing at Taunton and it was an almost perfect summer’s day with a forecast to match as Devon undertook their pre match preparations. Once again a number of the team had had a remarkable day in the Devon League the previous day but, with their success, they were also potentially tired. Coach Sandy Allen tried the robust approach and put the team through a very energetic and precise warm up that set the standards for the day. As home captain Dan Pyle spun the coin and Somerset called incorrectly, Devon were batting on a perfect Taunton track with a small boundary on one side. Initially the biggest danger to Devon were the seagulls who were evidently protecting something and were dive bombing those brave enough to walk anywhere near the Centre of Excellence. Toby Codd, who had up to this point not done much batting in 2015, and Harvey Sargent, who had done an awful lot, opened and continued the standards set in the warm up putting on sixty-four off a hundred balls in sixty-three minutes. This was an almost perfect start at an ideal tempo of 4.2 an over. The pair had seen off Tomkins, without a P, and Gore who had been replaced by Dunning and Clark. The latter had Codd caught by Scrivan for 28. He had batted for two minutes over the hour hitting two fours and a six off forty deliveries. His performance pleased everyone. The captain joined Sargent just in time for drinks and the pair added ten runs less than the opening partnership. They took Devon up to 118 off one ball short of the half way stage when Sargent tried to work the ball leg side only to be trapped leg before to Harrison. He had passed his fifty in the same over. His fifty-two had taken up ninety-five minutes and he had faced sixty-three balls. Both openers performed splendidly. The skipper who was now starting to dominate the side he had taken a hundred off in 2014 was joined by Dan Wolf, who was experiencing an excellent season in the Premier with both bat and ball. Wolf and Pyle increased the six count with some substantial hits into the adjoining stands and flats and expectations of a record score rose in the dugout. Having added twenty-six off twenty-three balls in eleven minutes Wolf played a shot he must have regretted as soon as it left the bat as he chipped Harrision to Brain on the short square leg boundary. It went straight down the fielder’s throat who did not even have to move. Devon were now six short of their one hundred and fifty with one hundred and eighty-two balls remaining. Thought was being given to a final total of three hundred and a record fifty over score looked a possibility. Unfortunately in reality neither happened despite Pyle and Tom Lammonby putting on forty-five in seventeen minutes off thirty-eight balls. The demise of the captain for seventy-one in the over after the second drinks break substantially reduced expectations. Pyle was the second senior Devon batsman to be frustrated as undoubtedly a second ton against Somerset was very much on the cards. He disappointingly played a half hearted shot to be Bartlett’s first contribution to the game as he took the catch and gave Harrison his third wicket. The captain had batted a minute over the hour striking nine fours and three sixes. Lammonby had been the perfect foil contributing ten and continuing the fine form he had demonstrated against the South and West. It was over the next five overs that Devon lost their way. Rudolph for once failed, contributing one in the fifth wicket partnership of five before being trapped in front by Knight. Eleven minutes and twenty balls later Devon were 206-6 when Thompson was the third leg before victim and Harrison’s fourth wicket. Fortunately Lammonby and FitzRoy got their heads down and stabilised the innings. They put on thirty-four important runs taking Devon up to 243 in the forty-seventh over. FitzRoy was caught by Trenouth off Tomkins for twenty-one. Lammonby was now on thirty-six and just starting to accelerate. Devon had twenty-three balls to set an imposing target. They reached the second highest total off fifty overs, just eight short of the 280 scored against Wiltshire in 1997. Both Lammonby and Dan Goodey batted to the situation, putting on twenty-nine runs off twenty-three deliveries in sixteen minutes. Goodey’s six lost the original match ball and Lammonby was undefeated on fifty (80 mins; 59 balls; 5 fours). There may have been some thoughts of what could have been achieved but realistically the final product, even with a short boundary, was a reasonable return. Somerset would have to score at just under five and a half.

Tea was taken, the side made aware of what was needed and first ball the side went up to a man for a leg before. Four balls later Goodey got his man bowling Trenouth 0-1. However the second wicket pairing of Brain and Bartlett put on eighty in just under an hour off one hundred balls. It had been good to catch up with two Devon old boys who were now in residence at Taunton and Sam Wyatt-Hayes, who was to join us later in the summer, felt we needed to get out their captain, Bartlett, as soon as possible. Pyle rang the changes involving Goodey, FitzRoy, Codd, Hagan-Burt and Petherbridge in the attack. It was an inspirational leg side catch by keeper, Sam Maunder, which changed the direction of the game. Having changed ends Hagan-Burt, who had taken five for thirteen for the under 16s against Somerset the previous summer enticed the positive Brain to flick one leg side only for Maunder to take off! It was a magnificent catch and enabled Devon to get very much back into the match. Next over Matt Petherbridge, who made such a huge impression in the Premier following his move to Torquay, took the vital wicket of the Somerset captain, who was caught at slip by Pyle via Maunder’s glove. Petherbridge went on to be deservedly nominated the DCL's Young Player of the Season. Somerset were now eighty for three off sixteen overs. Pre-drinks had taken two vital wickets. The batting side were now not allowed to get back into the game. Next over the electronic scoreboard was tested to its maximum as Hagan-Burt caught Scriven off Petherbridge - 90-4. On the same score Somerset were five down with McGill leg before to give Hagan-Burt wicket number two. Thirty-five were added for the sixth wicket when Goodey started picking up some more Fantasy Points. He caught Harrison off Rudolph on one hundred and twenty-five, caught Dunning off Codd (both first class outfield catches) and after Codd had bowled Gunningham, Goodey ran out Tomkins with a stunning direct hit from distance. Somerset were now one hundred and fifty-four for nine off thirty-eight overs. Codd took the final wicket and his third (3-34) when Harvey Sargent made it 100% chances offered and taken to leave Somerset one hundred and fourteen short with sixty-six balls unused. This had been a truly outstanding team performance and in some ways it was disappointing that the momentum built up in the first two matches could not be immediately built upon.

Overall this had been an outstanding day of Devon youth cricket one that will be looked back on fondly by the players in future years and even the loss of the dugout did not dampen a terrific occasion. The seagulls were less obvious as the football ended without recourse to penalties. Our thanks to Matt Counsell and the Somerset Cricket Board for giving us the second opportunity of playing at the County Ground.

In September the decision to fit in a friendly with Millfield School really did seem a good idea but the bringing forward of the Somerset one day game to early June had provided the side with the necessary warm up game for the summer, albeit a competitive one, which was the original purpose of this fixture. There was a nasty accident on the M5 which transpired to be closer to home than anyone would have wanted, we were playing on the School’s Junior Ground, greeted and welcomed by a charming custodian of the ground who directed car drivers to some distant car park with a certain glee, we determined toilets and water were available although quite a walk. We completed an excellent windswept warm up before any opposition were sighted..................Dan Pyle called heads, Devon batted and we experienced Benchgate as the game got underway. That overused word opportunity was again worn out and some did and others did not take their chance. An objective of the fixture was to ensure that every member of the likely summer squad had played a game before July so Josh Cann was keeping and it was hoped that Noah Wright would bat. A trip to London ruled out the latter so a new member to the under 16 squad, Ed Doble, was given his county debut. Some of the cricket was very good, some of the players should have used the occasion to be totally selfish and refine parts of their game but the end product of 341 runs entered this Greenbook at number one in the fifty overs section. Toby Codd should have joined the centurions list and the opening partnership of one hundred and fifty-five was joint twelfth in the partnerships, matching Bryn Latchem’s and Matt Wood’s contribution at Exmouth against Hampshire in 1997. That stand was later eclipsed as the highest opening partnership in 2004 by Josh Bess’ and Dan Bowser's one hundred and ninety-five. Toby Codd and Harvey Sargent batted together for seventy-nine minutes facing one hundred and fifty three balls. Unfortunately this outstanding opening partnership was followed by four first wicket partnerships that made no contribution to the score and one which made only nine. Their time together came to an end in the twenty-fourth over when Sargent was leg before for a seventy-six ball sixty-four. The partnership had taken seventy-nine balls. Codd was well past his fifty, in fact thirteen short of three figures. The Captain and Codd only put on eight before Codd was stumped off Eckland only six short of three figures and a maiden county hundred. Toby's view was he had lived by the sword and had died by it. One wonders if Zorro or D'Artagan would have turned to the Lunge, Flunge. Parry or Passata Sotto rather than the Petherbridge Charge. In truth he had chanced his arm, had a couple of lives but hit ten fours and three sixes in eighty-five minutes at the crease facing seventy-six balls but a ton is a ton. Pyle and Thompson put on ninety-two in forty minutes for the third wicket which was the best third wicket stand of the summer. Their partnership took in a Millfield Sunday Brunch and ended in the thirty-sixth over with Devon on 255, Dunning bowled Pyle for forty-four. Josh Cann joined Thompson, who was seven short of his fifty. The Heathcoat batsman was next to go in the forty-first over caught by Zander, who sounds more like a fencer than Codd, for a forty-seven ball sixty-six (nine fours two sixes). Devon were now two runs past their previous highest fifty over score - 280. Consideration was given to the side’s final tally with fifty-two deliveries remaining. It was anticipated that the side would score at least a run a ball bringing an end product around 334 and this was achieved. This was despite the fact that some of the running was not as good as it should have been, which may have been due to inexperience, but 350 should have been the target for the remaining six batsman that arrived at the crease, as it was they accumulated 341. Cann scored a twenty-eight ball twenty-two, Rudolph twenty-two off twenty-three, Wolf nine off five, Doble an unbeaten eight off seven, Hagan-Burt somehow batting at nine after a very mature hundred the previous day, two off three, and FitzRoy two off one. However taking everything into account this had been a very reasonable return!

The home side faced ten overs before tea and had reached 46-2 with Dan Goodey taking both wickets, which included a truly amazing (yes it was!) caught and bowled to remove Mama and bowling Vigar. After tea there was some confusion on the ECB Fast Bowling regulations that stopped Charles FitzRoy re-entering the attack which showed us that the coach can get annoyed! Ten overs later Petherbridge bowled opener Ackland for a fifty-eight ball twenty-four. The home side were now 100-3 having scored at fives with the required rate now up to eight. The third wicket had put on sixty-five. The fourth added six when Codd caught and bowled Chesham, two short of his fifty. Willows, with Dorset School connections, was batting confidently and had contributed the two runs of the fifth wicket partnership when Zander was well caught by Cann of Codd. The eighteen runs of the sixth wicket took Millfield up to one hundred and twenty-six when, with the third ball of Petherbridge's ninth over, Codd took the catch to remove Diamond. In his final over Petherbridge bowled Dunning - Millfield 133-7. Thirty-one were added for the eighth wicket before Goodey took another catch this time off Codd. Willows was ninth out for a highest score of the innings - fifty-one caught behind by Cann of FitzRoy. The final wicket was taken by Goodey who was too quick for Dunn, who was bowled. Devon had won by one hundred and sixty one and TCS chose Codd as their MOM.

Breaking a habit of a lifetime - the parents, who over the two years were actually a great group, were brilliant in getting all the kit to the school playground which had been utilised as a car park. Football completed, a realisation that the day had been an anti-climax and the normal spark had been missing in the field and the magnificent grounds of Millfield School left. Next on the agenda were three days in Hampshire.

Even without the cricket the four days away in Hampshire were amongst the most difficult in the seventeens twenty-three years. A hold up on the A38 meant those travelling from the west were delayed by seventy-five minutes. This resulted in a delayed departure of nearly ninety minutes on what perhaps is considered the least enjoyable trip of them all. There were hold ups everywhere and even though we left the A303 before Stonehenge we still got caught up in the traffic passed the monument. This could easily have been written in 1993 on the way to the Winchester Festival so it really is incomprehensible why this traffic problem has yet to be resolved. We eventually did get to the Hotel with a very quick turnaround as we were due at the Fleming Arms at 7.30pm. Tom Lammonby and Sam Maunder joined us from their Gloucestershire fixture (our real appreciation to Andy Maunder) and we were back on course. Monday opened to light rain which had an indirect affect on the players’ attitude as we were late leaving - the coach showed another side to his normally affable character. Leaving late we of course got held up on the M3 and the fifteen minute trip to the ground turned in to forty-five minutes so although we had intended getting to the St Cross ground earlier than normal we were now very late. The traffic barrier was raised and, even though there was some light rain still in the air and overcast conditions, it was still likely that the game would start on time. Dan Pyle adopted his wet weather call and inserted the opposition. Dan Goodey and Charles FitzRoy opened up and Goodey struck in the fifth over bowling Samuel - 15-1. In the seventh over Harvey Sargent caught the second opener Duggan off FitzRoy - 22-2. Goodwin joined Organ. It was him who had been the difference between the two sides in 2014 at Heathcoat in a game that had been reduced to a T20. He continued to look a class player, one who has played for Hampshire twos but he lost his partner, Organ, next over being the second home side batsman bowled by Goodey 23-3. Devon were making the most of the conditions. In the twelfth over Hampshire were four down for forty after FitzRoy bowled McCoy. Hagan-Burt and Petherbridge joined the attack in the fifteenth and sixteenth overs. Goodwin was now employing his most effective pick up shot and had scored forty-three of the ninety-two runs when Petherbridge struck, removing Caldera in the twentieth over with Tom Lammonby taking the catch. At the half way stage Devon took their sixth wicket with Lammonby using his excellent awareness by throwing to the bowler Codd to run out Came. Hampshire were 104-6 with Goodwin now on fifty. FitzRoy now twisted his ankle which had a knock on effect for the two dayer. In the thirty-second over Maunder took another excellent catch off Petherbridge to send Hovey back 138-7. Joe Hagan-Burt removed the next two batsmen including the important one of Goodwin with Dan Wolf taking the catch and the batsman eleven short of three figures. Hampshire had now accelerated to 184 off forty-two overs. Two balls later the home side were nine down on the same score with Maunder taking another catch. If the innings had been wound up now it would have been more than likely that Devon would have picked up four points but the final pair added another thirty-three which was critical to the home side’s ultimate success, Goodey game back to take the final wicket with Sargent taking his second catch. The final product of 217 off 48.1 should not really have been achieved and was most disappointing. Lunch was burger, cheesecake and lemon meringue.

Codd and Sargent opened but the Sidmouth batsman was caught at slip off McCoy second ball. Fortunately there was not such a big send off from the bowler as at Heathcoat in 2014 but this year he was also captain and he had already wound up Dan Goodey! Nought for one became eight for two as Codd was out in the second over. The captain and Dan Wolf fought back adding sixty-eight excellent runs in forty-seven minutes, off seventy-six balls and at 76-2 Devon were getting back into the game. Add on two wickets and Devon became 80-4. First Wolf was caught off Organ, having scored forty off thirty-eight, and Joe Hagan Burt lasted only eleven balls before Organ struck again, bowling the Plymouth all-rounder. Alarm bells were now sounding very loudly. Tom Lammonby joined Pyle and they put on one more run than the Wolf/Pyle partnership which started to stop the bells ringing so loudly. In the thirty-third over with Devon on 149-5 the skiddy Caldera struck, bowling Lammonby. Caldera's spell was to prove to be a very telling one. It was the captain to fall next to the same bowler, caught by his counterpart. He had batted for one hundred and sixteen minutes facing ninety-nine balls scoring sixty-nine. He played a major part in recovering his side’s awkward situation but his side would have appreciated another twenty minutes. Devon's problems increased with the early dismissal of Will Thompson for one and then Rudolph was bowled in the forty-second over by Caldera. The ever confident Goodey lasted five balls and Devon appeared now totally out of the game needing thirty-one at a run a ball with no life lines. The fact that FitzRoy, who had been batting sensibly and under fifteen Sam Maunder got within four of a tie with two balls remaining was not only bad for the heart but outstanding, if edgy, cricket. FitzRoy was the senior batsman but Maunder’s support was equally important. Devon needed ten off the last over. First ball Fitzroy lifted Devon's expectations by picking up Scriven and hitting him superbly though mid wicket for a four. A two (although one was short) was taken and then FitzRoy was caught for an almost match winning twenty-six off forty. Maunder and FitzRoy had added twenty-six. Sandy Allen opened the discussion and the players were themselves aware of where it had gone wrong. After this performance we at least knew what we were against. An easier trip back to the hotel, we returned to the Fleming but major night time road works overloaded TOMTOM.

We left on time for Totton and Eling C.C but of course we were again trapped in the motorway rush hour traffic so desperate measures were taken and at the earliest opportunity the motorway was left and a cross country route undertaken. We arrived at a much changed ground in time for a proper and excellent pre-match preparation. Since our last visit in 2009, when Adam Rouse had scored 121, flats now surrounded the ground with one occupier putting off our star batsman in mid innings. The pavilion had been rebuilt providing exceptional facilities but the railway line remained. A particularly short boundary to one side caused comment and concern but it was ascertained by the umpires that there was no alternative. We were advised that matches would follow us at close of play on both days. Dan Pyle called correctly for the second day in succession and the batting order was re-jigged for what was to be one of Devon Youth Cricket's epic games. This move was not an instant success as Hagan-Burt was bowled by the home side’s captain in the third over. His opening partner Harvey Sargent was out in the thirteenth over lbw to Scott and Devon were 32-2. Eighty-three were added by Sandford's Charles FitzRoy and now Exmouth's Dan Pyle for the third wicket. In the twenty-ninth over, six overs before lunch, FitzRoy was unexpectedly leg before three short of a fifty. He had batted well in difficult circumstances but it was a shame he did not bat through to the second session. The partnership had lasted fifty-one minutes off ninety-four balls and had started to turn the game around. Devon took lunch, baked potatoes, on a par 126-3 with the captain on forty-one. Hampshire had bowled thirty-five overs. Dan Wolf and Pyle continued after lunch taking their stand for the fourth wicket up to seventy-nine, putting Devon to within six runs of the second batting point. Again it came as a surprise when the visitor’s lost a wicket as Wolf was bowled by Goodwin for thirty nine having hit balls three and four of the over for six and four. The captain was now nineteen past his fifty and playing remarkable well. It was the stand of one hundred and ninety-two between Pyle and Tom Lammonby that transformed this performance from a good one into a truly exceptional one. Two hundred was posted in the forty-fifth over, the captain reached his hundred in the forty-ninth, the two fifty came up in the fifty-fourth, Pyle's one fifty and the three hundred in the sixty-third over. The coach used the word surreal to describe what was taking place in front of us but something incredibly special was happening. With the final batting point achieved in almost record time, plans were discussed but the captain just continued smashing the opposition in a manner that had simply not been witnessed before in the twenty-three summers of under seventeen cricket. At tea (seventy overs) Devon were 325-4 with Pyle on one sixty and Tom Lammonby on thirty-four. Indeed this was dreamlike. Discussions with the batsman were undertaken and a plan formulated. They took Devon up to 350 having scored at over four and a half an over but this exceptional partnership came to an end, again unexpectedly, in the eighty-fourth over when Organ bowled Lammonby. The pair had put on the sixth highest seventeen's partnership, the second highest fifth wicket stand, seventy-five behind Powell's and Greens 267 and the only century stand for the fifth wicket in 2015. They had faced two hundred and forty balls and batted for only one hundred and twenty-nine minutes. It was the highest partnership of the summer. Lammonby left his partner on one ninety-nine. Devon were fourteen runs short of four hundred. Billy Rudolph then nearly ran out his captain but fortunately Pyle was soon past his two hundred, reached with a four that also took the batsman past the previous best Devon youth score of 201 not out by Matt Cooke in 2005. Rudolph was run out falling on his sword in the eighty-ninth over with Pyle on 218. The declaration was now close, Devon were now in white as Thompson and Pyle put on forty off eighteen balls in eleven minutes. The captain was caught at long on off the last ball of the declaration over. His statistics are remarkable 241 - thirty fours, ten sixes, two fifty-eight minutes, two twenty-four balls. No obvious chances, without doubt, at any level, one of Devon's most extraordinarily innings. The home side had a minimum of one hundred and twelve overs, weather permitting, to score four hundred and fifty-two in fact Devon bowled one hundred and fourteen. Devon had ten overs before close of play to take some wickets. In Goodey's third over he caught and bowled Samuel for three. The umpires took the players off two overs early due to light rain and despite waiting until 6.40pm the weather did not improve and Hampshire needed four hundred and twenty-seven for nine on the second day. Having got stuck everywhere so far on this trip, it was no surprise that Sargent and Hagan-Burt got stuck in a lift. The main party went off to the Fleming, a trip which due to even more road closures took over an hour. Once the lift engineer arrived the two sixteens were swiftly removed and treated to a three course meal with drinks in the Hotel’s restaurant. Despite the potential claustrophobic problems they had the better deal as the pub were out of some deserts and, because of more road works, and it took ages to return as TOMTOM took the mini-bus literally around the houses in near perpetuity.

A longer lie in was permitted, a new route taken to get to the ground and for the first time the trip went to plan. Sandy Allen concentrated on a quick sharp fielding warm up and it started to pay dividends. In the ninth over of the morning the third batsman ‘Came and went’ leg before to Dan Goodey with Hampshire two down one short of fifty. Goodey struck again in twentieth over of the innings, the twelfth of the day, when Sam Maunder caught opener Duggan. This brought to the crease Hampshire’s most likely match winner, Goodwin, who had scored a hundred the previous week. He and Organ, who had been dropped first ball, put on sixty-seven for the fourth wicket. In all Devon missed five gilt edged opportunities to take wickets and in the end this was the decisive reason that a draw was the final result. However at this stage Devon were really believing a win on first innings would take place. In the twenty-fifth over of the day Matt Petherbridge took another vital wicket in hitting Goodwin's pads in front. Hampshire were now 121-4 and were shortly 122-5 when Dan Wolf held a brilliant short leg catch off Toby Codd. Wolf’s catching is generally of the highest order but his fielding at short leg ranked with the best. Lunch was taken with Hampshire on 167-5 with a minimum of sixty-five overs left in the day. Without further loss Hampshire picked up a second batting point in their fifty-seventh over (minus eight = forty-ninth of the day) when in the same over that much underrated but key bowler, Billy Rudolph, removed Calderia for fifty-four. It was unknown until the winter that Rudolph played much of the summer with a stress fracture in his back - very brave but........ Caldera's partnership with Organ had increased the score by eighty-one runs. Organ was on sixty-nine and he went on to score his hundred in the seventh wicket partnership of eighty-nine with Hovey. They had taken the score up to eight short of the final batting point when Pyle caught Organ off Petherbridge for one hundred and twenty-one. Just before tea, critically, Hovey was dropped and with the benefit of hindsight this was the end of Devon's chances of picking up the ten points. Tea was taken with Hampshire requiring one hundred and forty-six runs with three wickets left and Devon required to bowl twenty-seven more overs. In fact the visitors bowled another thirty-one as Hampshire pressed for a first innings win. Surprisingly for a two day game the pressure was continually mounting, due particularly to the short boundary. Hovey and Scriven added one hundred and fifty-three for the eighth wicket. A couple of run outs were missed but Devon actually responded exceptionally well to the developing situation with some outstanding fielding and sensible bowling. The two sweepers, Rudolph on the large boundary and Hagan-Burt on the shorter one, were extraordinary. Maunder kept at his fielders as the overs comparison always showed Devon to be ahead but Hampshire were going to receive one hundred and thirty-two more deliveries. The Manhattan indicated some very high skyscrapers (that dates the writer) in the extra overs but all of the bowlers performed exceptionally well with an economy rate of 5.09 (when the overs were running out) the most expensive and Rudolph's 2.70 the most miserly. This was difficult to watch with keeper Hovey now well past his ton but eventually Hampshire had one final over to score seventeen for ten points. Although FitzRoy had been bowling well, despite his ankle problems, Pyle turned to his senior bowler Goodey to ensure the draw. This decision was not well received by an opponent, who believed he was bowled out but did not take into account the four overs bowled the previous evening. Hovey was on strike with only one shot in mind to hit over the short leg side boundary. The over could not have started worse, well perhaps two sixes, but the first ball cleared the rope and the second bounced over it. Seven off four now needed. It seemed unlikely that a game that has produced eight hundred and ninety-six runs had come down to such a finale. Thoughts of how we were going to build up the side were central but to his eternal credit Goodey then bowled four dots. Respect on both sides, an amazing game of cricket and some really sensible reality from the seventeens. They have played Hampshire since they were eleven and have seen their opponents strengthened while in turn Devon have lost some important personnel. This reflects incredibly well on the selected twelve who were all in different ways MAGNIFICENT. The match will be remembered as Pyle’s Game, I have been saving this, as he compiled a record breaking score but this was also a team performance. His side's score also rewrote the youth records even beating by one run the under nineteens’ 450 against Berkshire in 2001. Although there had been some fraught moments, we had enjoyed our time at the Southampton ground. The groundsman, who knew Devon well, had been most helpful. We departed taking the coastal A35 route home and we got back in record time. As usual we stopped at the Dorchester McDonalds,  where we met up with David Herbert a member of the successful 1994 Under 17 Winchester Festival winning team. After recalling that successful week together perhaps these four days had not been that bad!

As it had been Devon's turn not to be involved in the first week of the 2015 under 17 programme and, having only taken ten points from the exceptional draw with Hampshire, Devon were in catch up mode in their home game against Somerset. Having enjoyed a special day at the County Ground in winning the cup game, it really was vital that the side built on that success. The management team were joined by the excellent Sam Wyatt-Haines and Josh Sargent and there was one team change with Kasi Szymanski coming in for Will Thompson. The captain tossed with a ten pence piece, as that is the state that society has come to in an increasingly cash free society, and Somerset won and batted. There was disappointment all round despite the earlier rain and overcast conditions prevalent at the Maer. However the emotions of the side rapidly changed as their bowlers ripped out five important wickets before the lasagne and syrup pudding with custard. In the fifth over Szymanski struck first trapping Brian leg before - 8-1, In his next over he removed the much vaunted Somerset captain, brilliantly caught leg side by keeper Sam Maunder - 14-2. Szymanski took his third wicket five balls later this time trapping Trenouth in front - 26-3. Three balls later the Maunder / Szymanski combination struck again - 27-4. Szymanski's figures were then 4-15. Joe Hagan-Burt took the fifth wicket in the twenty-third over of the session with Tom Lammonby diving full length to take a top catch in the gulley. The sixth wicket pairing took the visitors up to 91-5 at lunch. After the interval Szymanski was recalled and in his third over took his fifth wicket sending Shaw back to the pavilion and proving how important it is to bowl straight with another leg before 104-6. The Szymanski / Maunder partnership struck again in the forty-second over - 110-7. Budleigh's Joe Gore was bowled by Hagan-Burt in the forty-fifth over - 115-8. Once again it was time to get annoyed as the eighth wicket put on thirty-eight, taking Somerset up to a batting point plus three runs. Drinks were taken in the fifty-first over, the coach words worked, as twelve balls later Codd trapped Clark in front - 153-9. Billy Rudolph ended the innings with a neat caught and bowled in the fifty-fifth over. Overall this was a very satisfying performance with the keeper outstanding, indeed he was over the two days, but still not all the chances were taken particularly in the slip cordon. Szymanski's final figures were hampered by the fast bowling directives but his 6-31 off twelve is the fourth best return behind Gregory, Green and Whitlock. In the close season it was Glamorgan that took Szymanski onto their academy and unfortunately the South Devon all rounder did not feature in another under 16/17 game in 2015.

Game plans were prepared with forty-six overs in the day remaining, five before tea. Within twelve balls the plan had been rewritten twice. Joe Gore sought revenge and in his first over, with the help of keeper Gunningham, had Devon 0-2. Hagan-Burt and FitzRoy the batsman out in almost identical fashion. Tea could not come soon enough but Sargent and Dan Pyle avoided another mishap with Devon on 10-2 at the interval. Game Plan 3 was agreed at tea and was nearly achieved in that first innings points were taken before close of play but at the cost of the loss of four more wickets, the last dismissal off the last ball of the day the most frustrating. Sargent and Pyle added forty-one off fifty-nine balls in thirty-five minutes - Pyle leg before for twenty-two reducing his current season’s average to 100.75. He was Gore's third wicket. Sargent and Dan Wolf put on an important and highest stand of the innings seventy-eight in six minutes under the hour off one hundred and seventeen balls. Wolf gave Harrision a return catch in the thirty-first over forty runs short of first innings points. Tom Lammonby with Kasi Szymanski helped Harvey Sargent put on thirty-eight of the runs needed in twenty-five minutes but then Shaw took the seventh leg before of the day. Pyle had contributed 22, Wolf 27 and Lammonby 29 all understanding that they should have batted on to put their opponents under more pressure but the ten points were now in sight. Sargent had batted with great concentration and skill and had contributed sixty-one of the one hundred and fifty-seven. Rudolph, after a county lean spell with the bat, again looked like his old self and ensured we ended the day ahead but he played an inappropriate shot to the last ball of the day to give Gunningham/Gore a third wicket - the bowler a fourth - most unlike the Ottery batsman. Sargent was unbeaten on sixty-five and a change of approach was formulated with Devon now eight runs ahead with four wickets remaining. The Devon innings had not been easy watching and the laps took their toll on an old knee.

Early nets were again available. Numbers one and two entered the arena and put on forty-four in a minute more off ninety-one deliveries. Codd and Sargent were good but, after they were confronted by a short rain break, another opportunity to turn the screw wasn’t taken as Toby Codd was trapped in front by Harrison - Devon 210-7. Sargent was now nine short of a most deserved hundred. Dot balls now became a too common currency. Szymanski and Sargent put on a vital thirty and Harvey reached three figures in the seventieth over with Devon now on 233. Harrison bowled Szymanski in the seventy-first and Sargent's marathon but essential innings came to an end in the seventy-sixth with a reverse lap that was caught by Clark. His end product of 115 out of 252 had taken nearly four hours included eighteen fours and had been fundamental to his side’s success. Maunder and Goodey took Devon to lunch, with Goodey taking sixteen off three balls, and Devon were 277-9 at the interval. Sausage and mash and an option plus an exceptional toffee crumble with custard. After lunch Maunder got hit, the new ball was taken, one run added and Gore took his fifth wicket - 5-34 off 15.2. Devon were one hundred and nineteen ahead and had missed out on a fourth batting point. The tactics book was shredded and it would now be laisser-faire until next week. In fact Devon picked up four important second innings points by taking nine Somerset wickets and although more slip chances were ignored Dan Wolf held a brilliant one. At close of play Somerset were eighty-eight ahead with a wicket remaining. Sam Maunder set a tempo which allowed Devon to bowl seventy overs in just over three and a half hours. The visitor’s openers put on twenty-seven Szymanski took his seventh wicket of the match hitting Harrison on the pads. Brain was caught behind by the impeccable Maunder off Petherbridge - 60-2. The Torquay left armer removed Bartlett for the second time in the summer, bowling him - 103-3. At 142 Petherbridge dived, the earth moved and he took an exceptional two and then one handed caught and bowled. The captain had entered the attack in the forty-second over bowling spin and had Scriven leg before - 143-5. Wolf now also in spin mode gave Maunder another catch - 171-6. Wolf dived full length at slip to take a remarkable catch to give Goodey his first wicket - 194-7. Goodey promptly bowled Gore for a pair - 195-8 and Maunder did the business for the sixth time in the match to give FitzRoy his wicket - 208-9, twenty-one vital points. Exmouth was visited by a number of old boys including last year's captain celebrating his eighteenth birthday. This was our last of five days at the Maer and they, as always, had been exceptional hosts. Sandy Allen had put in thirteen plus hour days for our benefit and his contribution had been immense. Lucy Davis and her catering term were their incomparable selves.

We left Exeter late, match details evidently not read, but overall a reasonable trip to Cardiff with a little tennis on the motorway. There was time for a swim and the Coach setting the example again in the gym. We ate in but still were fairly late out of the restaurant. It was an 8.45am leave which was not achieved but there was an improvement. We were playing at Pentyrch Cricket Club, where we had been due in 2009 to play and did not ever get to it as it was unplayable both days due to the volume of rainfall. This Club has for years toured Devon in September with very many happy memories. The ground was reached on time and we received a very warm welcome. Rain had penetrated the covering which was a combination of sheets and covers. The ground is nearly 1000 feet above sea level and very open to the elements so it also benefits from a strong drying wind. The start was delayed, an early Barbeque lunch taken and the captain called incorrectly and Devon were batting. Play would continue until 7.30pm and did. Enforced changes due to Bunbury and injuries gave debuts to Ben Phillips and Oli Reed. Will Thompson returned after missing the Somerset win on first innings. We were 0-1 off eight balls with Codd caught by Davey off Murphy. FitzRoy and Sargent took the visitors to the twentieth over before FitzRoy was the second batsman caught - 31-2. He had scored nineteen. Three minutes later it was three down on the same score. The side’s senior batsmen, Pyle and Wolf, then added one hundred and thirty-one in one hundred and eight minutes in a brilliant counter attacking partnership. Although twenty-five less than the fourth wicket stand against the South and West, this was the only other century stand for this wicket. Tea was taken after forty-three overs with Devon on 115-3. The pair had batted another twenty-one post tea overs when Wolf was caught on the leg side boundary by Pearce off Carlson - 162-4. With the first batting point secured the objective was to try and take three more. Wolf had scored fifty-two off one hundred and thirty-five balls in another mature performance. His captain had reached seventy-six and looked on target for another hundred. The fifth wicket only added seven when Rudolph was the fourth catch by a Welshman. He fell in the sixty-ninth over and Thompson was leg before in the seventy-fourth. In general Will will have been disappointed at his batting returns over the summer. This was a very difficult period for Devon who were now 185-6. Fortunately debutant Ben Phillips demonstrated the grit and aggression needed and saw his captain past his second championship hundred of the programme. It took one hundred and seventy-seven minutes and helped him remain at the top of the country’s under 17 batsmen. Phillips and Pyle put on a telling fifty-nine for the seventh wicket and reinforced the need for such contributions throughout the side. The captain was out in the ninetieth over with his side six short of a third batting point. His one hundred and thirty-two matched Sam Smith's in 2008. Although Devon achieved a third batting point they were all out fourteen runs later as the last three wickets fell in quick succession to the new ball. Phillips twenty-two had been a most important contribution. There was perhaps time for two overs to try and take a wicket. Goodey's first over went for twelve but a smart piece of fielding and thinking between Toby Codd and keeper Sam Maunder ran out Voke. Wales needed two hundred and forty-eight for nine off at least one hundred and two overs. Devon would have to work hard. We ate in at the Village again with a slightly quicker turn around.

After early visits to the pool and gym Devon left on time at 9.15pm knowing they were in for a long day, as the one day game the following day was to be played at one of Wales most westerly grounds in Pembrokeshire. This would necessitate a journey, including a meal, of at least three hours later in the day. The morning fielding and bowling warm up was completed under heavy cloud cover and this was the weather conditions when the second over of the innings was completed fifteen and a half hours after it had commenced. Charles FitzRoy took over from Goodey and Goodey changed ends to replace Rudolph. Devon bowled another eleven overs, giving Oli Read his first bowl at this level before rain interrupted proceedings with Wales on fifty-five for one. The break only lasted eleven minutes and at the restart Rudolph was reintroduced. Wales chanced their arm against the two Ottery seamers and Petherbridge and the captain were brought into the attack. This created an early result with Petherbridge bowling the hard hitting Peace with the final ball of his third over. This was in the twenty-second over of the Wales innings and they had reached 118, with the second wicket pair putting on one hundred. Petherbridge then bowled eight dot balls before he took his second wicket, bowling Roberts with only four runs added to the total. The captain then trapped Carlson in front leaving Wales 125-4 off twenty-seven overs. Lunch, again a Barbeque, was taken with Wales on 137 and Devon had bowled thirty-one overs. Andrady was well set on sixty-six. Wales added another twenty-three post lunch runs when keeper Sam Maunder took a catch off the captain to remove the dangerous Andrady for seventy-eight. The home side were now ninety-eight behind with five wickets in hand. Devon were not helping their own cause by again not taking every opportunity created. This fielding problem undoubtedly had a huge affect not only on this game but the side’s final placings. Wales were six down in the fifty-eighth over when Maunder took another excellent leg side catch, this time off Toby Codd. It was the sort of quality catch that often turns a game. Unfortunately in this case it didn’t as the seventh wicket took the home side up to and past their target, as the second highest partnership of the innings was accumulated. Tea was taken with Wales thirty-two behind. The seventh wicket pair put on seventy-nine in eighty-three minutes off one hundred and sixty-seven balls. Dan Pyle rang the changes and the pair were eventually parted after the new ball was taken as Goodey bowled Sisodiya. Wales were now seventeen ahead. Wales did not pick up an additional and final batting point as Read bowled Ward in the eighty-seventh over - 279-8, Wolf held another good catch to remove Davey to give Oli Read a second wicket and in the ninety-second over Goodey bowled last man Murphy. Wales had a lead of thirty and the Welsh management scented second innings bonus points and at the same time delaying our departure for the West coast. Despite losing Toby Codd second ball, completing a pair, and Harvey Sargent in the twelfth over neither side picked up a point. The decision to bowl twenty overs at Devon did not help the relationship behind the two sides as it took sixty-seven valuable minutes and delayed Devon on their cross county trek to Wales furthest coast. Great credit to both batsmen, Charles FitzRoy and Dan Wolf, for not giving Wales a sniff at a bonus point and time was called at twelve minutes to seven with Devon 50-2.

The host Club could not have been more helpful but we experienced some of the coldest cricket conditions ever in July. Wind breaks would have been welcome and record layers were applied with beanies making a first appearance since the winter. The Petherbridge Clan had spent some very happy years in the village and the three generations met up with many old friends but it was fully understandable why they had migrated to Devon, if these were two typical summer days. A fifty-third wedding anniversary was celebrated by two of our most loyal supporters. Devon booked a Harvester mid way in Carmarthen. This transpired to be located in a modern shopping centre with a car park with height restrictions! Sandy Allen's ability behind the wheel was tested to the full. We eventually arrived at the Pembroke Dock Travelodge past eleven o'clock. An errant flask delayed the management even further. This had been the side’s first first innings defeat in their two years together.

It was a bright start at Pembroke Docks and the squad were off for Breakfast at Tesco where we received a warm greeting and porridge for some. The Carew ground was found where another genuine and warm welcome was received and maintained throughout the day for our missionary visit of spreading county cricket into deepest West Wales. The adjacent field was being harvested, the ground overlooked by a castle and the shortest straight boundaries ever experienced. The fielding circle was just about accommodated. A high scoring affair was anticipated and another good toss to win. Toby Codd received, most graciously, the first ever award for an under 17 pair from the coach and Pyle called incorrectly. For the second successive year our opponents were confused on the starting time, fortunately the umpires saw sense as a further delay was just adding time on our arrival time at Exeter which was already one of concern. Devon then once again missed vital chances including the vital one of Pearce but this was to be the Roberts show as he scored an unbeaten one hundred and sixty-four. After the near freezing conditions of the previous two days, it was a rare pleasure to enjoy an almost perfect summer’s day.  Page 2