Noah Wright, who was suffering from a severe case of tonsillitis necessitating a trip up from Paignton with the prescribed drugs, and Joe Hagan-Burt put on eighteen for the second wicket but the Plymouth batsman fell in the seventh over 18-2, time for George to have a walk! There was then an hour's rain break, Devon then put on three vital partnerships first Tom Lammonby, who was now playing just as a batsman awaiting a decision on his back, and Wright put on 68 off fifty-four balls. The joy, and it is a joy, of having Lammonby in the side is his ability to find gaps and his running. The pair batted well together and Lammonby's ability to keep the scoreboard ticking over at a decent rate frees his partner of the dreaded scoreboard pressure. It was fifty and out as Wright laid into Belcher to sky a return catch. Time wise this was not ideal as it exposed the captain to nine pre lunch deliveries. Wright had scored at the outstanding strike rate of 124.39 hitting nine fours, his share of the sixty-eight partnership was forty-seven a vital innings. Lammonby and Rudolph took Devon up to 160 in fifty-seven minutes when Nelson struck in balls and Rudolph cut loosely to spoon a simple catch. He had needed to hit it. The pair had put on seventy-four of which Lammonby had contributed thirty-eight and Rudolph thirty-five. These two are the best runners in the side and together they looked a class act. Harry Ward joined Lammonby who was due to play for the ECB Development side the following week against Ski Lanka but was deprived of the opportunity by a small fracture in his back which was to curtail his season after this game. Rain again interrupted play and play would now go on until seven thirty. Following the return to the field the two hundred was passed and Ward and Lammonby were compiling a potentially match winning partnership. The two fifty came up in the fifty-fifth over and Devon were well placed at tea on 252- 4. The three hundred was raised in the sixty-sixth over and Lammonby was well past his second hundred of the summer against Gloucestershire, the under rated batsman Harry Ward was past his first fifty of the summer. With full bonus points secured it was now a matter of timing the declaration. The pair took Devon up to 329 when Wards fine innings came to an end for an outstanding sixty-five, the pair had put on one hundred and sixty-nine in just one hundred and thirty-five minutes off one hundred and sixty-nine deliveries. It was the sides highest partnership of the summer and equalled the tenth best under 17 partnership. It was hoped that Ward would go on and score the three figures he is capable before the end of the season, he nearly did so in the next game but fell twenty-one short. Kazi Szymanski fell in the seventy-third over - 337-6, Sam Maunder went second ball and with the demise of Tom Lammonby in the seventy-seventh over Devon declared on 340-8. An outstanding batting performance. Lammonby's one three nine was the highest individual score of the summer came off two hundred and one balls and included fifteen fours. Gloucestershire faced eighteen overs without loss putting on fifty-nine. Devon then travelled straight to the Duke of Wellington. This had been an excellent days work.

The previous year at Brislington Devon Under 16s had been in a similar overnight position and then took early wickets and with his eighteenth delivery of the morning Jack Gibbs had Palmer caught by Noah Wright. The openers had put on sixty-nine and Devon had devised a plan to put the home side batters under pressure. Forbes and Garrett put on seventy-one off one hundred and three delivers for the second wicket when the promising under 14 left arm spinner, Hancock, brilliantly caught and bowled the dangerous Forbes. After forty-one overs the home side were comfortably placed on 140-2. By the time lunch was taken the balance had changed as the captain had picked up three wickets leaving Gloucestershire on 175-5. He first bowled Garrett and then in successive balls trapped Webb and Hooper in front. Rudolph was demonstrating the benefit of gun barrel straight bowling. His figurers at lunch were 3-16. In the fourth post lunch over Rudolph struck again picking up his third leg before. The captain was in the middle of one of those very special spells. Matt Petherbridge joined in eight balls later with another leg before. Gloucestershire were now eight short of a second batting point and Devon had picked up their third bowling point. Rudolph took his fivefor by bowling Drissell. The ninth wicket partnership gained the second batting point and added twenty-nine and at tea Gloucestershire were 225-8. Ten balls after the interval nine wickets were down Max Hancock whose twenty overs demonstrated what an asset he would have been had Belcher caught by Wright and then the captain finished the innings off with the help of a neat slip catch from Sargent. His outstanding figurers of 16.2-5-30-6 are the fourth best under 17 return. Devon were one hundred and twenty-four ahead. We had received a royal visit from the Coaches parents and it indeed was good to see them both.

The Devon openers put on sixty-seven before Wright was dismissed in the twenty-fourth over. Devon were on 91 when twenty-three minutes were lost to rain. Another two runs were added when Sargent was leg before for a eighty-two ball fifty-seven. There were seventeen balls left before close of play and Tom Lammonby declined a night watchman and Devon were two hundred and twenty-two ahead at close of play. Again it had been a long day and we had to drive straight off to Bourton on the Water.

The tactics for the final day were discussed and various approaches considered as it transpired Devon played the near perfect hand. They took out twenty-three overs from the day adding another one hundred and fifty-three runs. Hagan-Burt and Lammonby added one hundred and thirty for the third wicket in just seventy-five minutes, it was exceptional batting. The sides pointless run out came in the forty-ninth over when Hagan-Burt went for a second, He had batted for ninety-two minutes facing ninety-nine balls and was fifteen short of another deserved hundred. His partner who was on target for his third ton of the summer against Gloucestershire then played one of his least successful leg side shots to be caught by Drissell for sixty. The home side were very relieved to have seen the back of him. Once Lammonby was out it was important that Devon did not take up too many balls and Billy Rudolph brought his side in at the end of the fifty-third over with Gloucestershire needing three seventy-five but more realistically Devon needed to pick up ten wickets. It was important that they made early inroads into Gloucestershire's top order and hope the spinners would sort out the rest. This virtually is what happened. The home side survived the eighteen balls before lunch then Kazi Szymanski sorted out both the openers juggler Harry Ward caught Palmer and Harvey Sargent Forbes - 27-2 off nine overs. The captain took his seventh wicket in the twelfth over,, surprise surprise another leg before - 37-3. A bigger surprise was that Devon took their own first run out of the summer a brilliant piece of work from Harry Ward - 44-4. It became 79-5 when Hancock took his first wicket with another fine catch this time from Hagan-Burt. Harry Ward will be disappointed with his first spell but Max Hancock then had the home sides top scorer Garrett well held by Sam Maunder. Maunder now over his post operation blues was back to his best adding another dimension to the side in the field. Matt Petherbridge now fully returned to his old self was confirmed by another leg before - 119-7. The long handle was now out and Gloucestershire now reached tea on 140-7.The eighth wicket put on an annoying fifty-five but Devon now had field settings never seen previously at this age group as they went for the kill. Petherbridge trapped the annoying Drissell, his thirty-two had most certainly infuriated. 174-8. Harry Ward now returned to the attack and bowled a peach to Wormwell and Hagan Burt, close in, held a stunning one handed catch 197-9. Max Hancock in his twenty-first over then held a second exceptional caught and bowled and it was all over. George had walked at least four wickets and was tired but everyone else were truly delighted in what had been a near perfect three day performance with everyone around the bat at the end. Poor Oli Reed was the bowler to suffer and not get some overs in but he had patrolled the furthest boundary brilliantly.

We stopped at Gordano's and met up with the Cornwall Under U17s who themselves had had a successful trip, Sandy Allen who had ensured we were ahead of our opposition throughout the game got everyone home at a reasonable time and then thirty-six hours later an email arrives.

In the third three day against Hampshire, at Sandford, there were a number of changes in fortune and fluctuations. It was disappointing that it was not possible to set up a second innings chase but having being inserted, declaring our first innings to try and keep the game moving, being over two hundred runs behind on first innings it made it impossible. There was no real benefit after batting for over six and a half hours to save the game to give it all away with a sporting declaration. The forecast was for light rain over all three days and spasmodically it did rain but not creating any major problems unless you listen to the Devon bowlers. On losing the toss Devon were inserted and within eight balls were one down as Wrights own fluctuating season continued. For a player with such potential and ability he will be very disappointed with his summer scoring two hundred and seventy-three runs at an average of twenty-one passing fifty once James Bovey fresh from success with the sixteen's came in at three but he also departed out on the second ball he received - Devon were now 7-2 and on the back foot. Fortunately Harvey Sargent, fresh from another big league hundred and Joe Hagan-Burt added one hundred and forty-four at a cracking rate off one hundred and seventy-one balls in just ninety-eight minutes. This was the first of two one forty stands by Devon in the game for the third wicket. Disappointingly Devon lost two more wickets before the lunch interval. In the thirtieth over Sargent was caught off Gwynne who was to take the next three wickets. Sargent again appeared on target for his first county hundred of the summer. In fact he ended thirty-eight short which was unfortunate. His partner fell four overs later with under 14 Middleton taking the catch. Hagan-Burt was twenty-seven short of three figures. Lunch, roast chicken and trifle, was taken after thirty-nine overs with Devon on 164-4. Harry Ward was Gwynne's third wicket bowled eleventh ball after lunch. The home sides position deteriorated further in the forty-first over when Kazi Szymanski was leg before to Gwynne - Devon 182-6 and it most certainly looked the right decision to insert in overcast conditions but on a flat one. Under sixteen Tom Williams, playing on his home ground, joined his captain and the pair almost secured the second and third batting points adding sixty-three in fifty-two minutes off one hundred and thirty-six balls. Five short of the third batting point Williams was dismissed in the sixty-seventh over caught by the captain, Scriven, off Searle. The captain fell one run later in the following over. Rudolph had again batted determinedly but was Searle's second wicket caught by Gadd. Gibbs and Maunder secured the third batting point and Rudolph called his side in. This nearly proved to be one of Devon's best declarations as within seven minutes Devon had removed both openers - Mead caught behind off Szymanski 0-1 and Samuel leg before off Gibbs a tremendous start 2-2. At tea Hampshire were 45-2 off thirteen overs. It would have been almost the perfect declaration if Scriven had been caught behind off Rudolph in his thirties as he went on to score 288 the highest individual score against a Devon youth side. Hampshire reached close of play on 184-2 with under fourteen Middleton, son of Tony, on fifty-three and Scriven on one hundred and nineteen. They had recovered their sides position well. Devon had lost their way in the final session where there had been a short break for rain. Devon had bowled forty-five overs and Hampshire had scored at fours. As always Sandford were ahead of the game, prepared for every eventuality and hosting superbly. It was good to catch up with some old friends and in particular Devon Under 16 and 17s first coach - David Gibson.

It was vital that Devon performed well in the first session of the second day and they did. By lunch Hampshire were 283-5. On the final ball of the first over Szymanski removed Middleton, leg before - 187-3. The pair had put on one hundred and eighty-five and completed their sides recovery from a difficult start. Thirty-seven were added for the fourth wicket when James Bovey swooped at mid wicket to run out Gadd. Matt Petherbridge took his only wicket in his ninth over trapping Gwynne in front. Post lunch, pork casserole and a fruity cheesecake, it was a Szymanski maiden and first ball of Jack Gibbs a stump was sent backwards - 283-6. Scriven was fifteen short of his two hundred. Thoughts on a declaration when all batting points were secured and the captain past his two hundred entered discussions but in fact Hampshire decided on the option to bat the home side out of the game and then roll them over. Such an approach usually reduces options particularly the chances of the home side winning! The visitors were helped by a really disappointing afternoon session when the skipper had real problems gaining any control. In fairness over the years our spinners have been able to exert such pressure by bowling consistently. Apart from at Great Rissington this had not necessarily been the case in 2017. It did not help that Tom Williams was unwell with a migraine. Devon had to wait a further eighty-three minutes for their second post lunch wicket and watch one hundred and forty-three runs added for the seventh wicket when the captain who was as always leading from the front had Holly caught by Oli Reed, four runs later Rudolph bowled Pardoe 430-8, then trapped Searle in front 454-9 and then caught his opposite number with 459 on the board At four minutes past four Billy Rudolph repeated his Clifton College catch this time at long off to remove Scriven for an exceptional two hundred and eighty-eight and although not noticed by the scorers this was Hampshire's tenth wicket. This catch gave James Bovey his first under 17 wicket.

Tea was taken and Sandy Allen clearly stated what Devon had to do - bat for four sessions and then shake hands with their opponents. He put it across brilliantly and to the players credit they then applied it to the letter!! Devon reached close of play on 118-2, Wright was bowled by Searle for 17 and Harvey Sargent was caught at slip off Organ's first ball for thirty. Hagan-Burt and Bovey took Devon up to close of play on a track that has seen little sunshine but was playing beautifully. The next day the pair completed a partnership of one hundred and forty-two playing exceptionally well and appearing in no difficulty. Bovey was caught for his maiden under 17 fifty and will now need to build on these foundations over the next thirteen months. Joe Hagan -Burt and Billy Rudolph took Devon up to lunch on two hundred and forty-six for three, thirty-nine runs ahead. The new ball was taken post lunch, Lasagne and crumble, and the pair batted through it when in its eleventh over to everyone's surprise Hagan-Burt departed. He had reached one hundred and seventeen hitting thirteen fours and a six and the pair had put on nine short of a hundred. Devon were at two thirty- seventy-eight runs ahead as Harry Ward joined Rudolph. The pair added one hundred and fifty-two in one hundred and two minutes off two hundred and ten balls. Ward contributed seventy-nine, a county best and Rudolph sixty-four. They took in tea - one hundred and fifty-nine ahead with Ward on thirty-six and Rudolph on eighty-one. Post tea it was all Ward as he almost caught up his partner. The real sadness and frustration is that he got within twenty-one runs of a maiden hundred but got out. Rudolph did reach his second ton of the summer and whisper it he actually showed disappointment at his leg side dismissal. The Coach had been approached at tea but in reality there really did seem little point making a token effort that perhaps should had come the previous day. Williams and Szymanski added twenty-eight and at five o'clock in the words of the coach hands were shaken. This really had been an outstanding performance with great application and character shown by Devon. The draw is not yet dead the perseverance shown by the Devon batsman clearly demonstrated there are many ways to play cricket and on this occasion they were simply magnificent.

The side knew what they required to achieve in their final game of the summer and that was to pick up a minimum of twelve points from their match against already crowned champions Somerset. These points could take them to second place in the division. Although Sunday was another fine summers day the forecast for the three match days were for heavy rain on the first day, light rain on the second and heavy cloud on the third so the optimism was low for a full game. A really nasty crash on the A38 involving two visits from the Devon Air Ambulance delayed one car but the team arrived in good time at the Blorengh House only to meet up with the truly delightful Mahela Jayawardene and his family. The radar for the first day of prolonged rain from around 11.00am was confirmed by regional weather forecasts and local entertainment was checked. We had been only rained off in Somerset on one previous occasion but this looked like a more serious stoppage. Warm ups were completed and Devon won the toss and invited Somerset to bat. Kazi Szymanski duly removed Wells second ball neatly caught at slip by Sargent. This brought the home sides prolific captain to the crease and Trenouth and Banton batted the remaining forty-six balls scoring twenty-five before the radar was proved to be accurate. Devon had made life difficult for the home side. It rained with very brief intervals long into the night and although lunch was taken the days play was abandoned shortly before tea which was also taken. Darts, table tennis and later in the day ten pin bowling occupied the day but it was becoming a rather sad anticlimactic end to the season. On the second day Devon left the Blorengh House later than normal as rain was still around and they were greeted with the news that the second days play had already been abandoned which surprised very few. Devon lost James Bovey who returned home unwell The football pitch was made available, more table tennis and we were successful with their second lunch venue attempt. The side then sat back to watch Jason Bourne. In fact the very last touring party to the Isle of White had watched one of the early films in the Bourne series but in truth that did not help at all. It was action packed and the good guys came out on top! We went to the Skylark for the last evening meal together and a convivial evening was had.

Rooms were left tidy and this would be the last time that this group of players would play together, unless they accept an invitation from the Kingsbridge President in 2020 if of course he makes it to then. In fact they produced an outstanding last day together. Somerset had already booked Taunton Vale to play Surrey in both the one day and three day semi-finals both against Surrey. They had been the stand out team of the division so Devon should be delighted with their own on the field performance. It did not start well the former Barnt Green member Banton was dropped at second slip second ball from Szymanski but twenty-four balls later the batsman nicked it again and Joe Hagan-Burt held it at second attempt - 37-2. The third wicket pair of Trenouth and Shaw put on seventy-nine off one hundred and five deliveries in a minute under the hour. It was their captain that was well caught by the standing up Maunder off the deserving Oli Reed. It was brilliant that this underrated, but important member of the side, took the key wicket of the day. It was apparent that there is little love lost between some of the Devon and Somerset players which is disappointing but his dismissal was greeted with universal delight within the side, it was a critical wicket in Devon's plans. Interestingly in 2017 he is featuring in the Devon Minor Counties side. Somerset were now 116-3 off twenty-nine over's. Although Hagan-Burt ran out Dunning with a direct hit it was leg spinner Harry-Ward who took four of the next five to fall. Clist was held by his Paignton colleague Wright, his long term friend Petherbridge caught Scriven. Shaw who was nine short of a fifty was another excellent caught behind. Sam Maunder will be greatly missed in 2017 as his rugby career blossoms. It was good to meet up again with brother Jack who is now fortunately over his nasty hand injury and after an outstanding season with the Chiefs was selected to tour Argentine with England in 2017. The captain fittingly held the final catch of the summer to remove Eminson. Wards final figures were an important 10-1-38-4. Kazi Szymanski who had taken the first two wickets came back to remove the final two Walsh bowled and Gore leg before. Four points picked up as Rudolph had kept his nerve in the post lunch session when the home side went after the Devon bowlers to set up a chase. They were all out 212 with Szymanski figures an equally impressive 12-3-35-4.

It was clearly obvious who were the home sides main targets and that apparently from the calls that Joe Gore was their main weapon. In fact it was Walsh who should have made the initial breakthrough as he had Wright caught in the gulley but it was a no ball. Devon were then on three. Harvey Sargent was obviously in one of his most obdurate moods and ultimately it was essential he was as he batted beautifully reaching a chanceless hundred. He and Wright put on a vital fifty-nine in forty-four minutes off sixty-five balls when Joe Gore had Wright caught by Clist this time not off a no ball. Another of Somerset's targets arrived at the crease but the umpires had earlier intervened but that perhaps did not stop the odd aside. From 15-all it became 30-15 to the home side as Gore removed Hagan Burt caught by Wells. It quickly became 40-15 when the captain brought out his cut to be caught by Shaw, he needs to review or modify this shot - perhaps hit it harder! Harry Wards important contribution to the season ended with Devon three short of three figures. However Sargent was on top of the situation batting brilliantly and was joined by Ben Phillips whose retirement from county cricket was fortunately one of the shorter. It was totally to Devon's benefit and fitting he should end his county age group cricket in an outstanding and essential partnership of one hundred and thirty-six. This was the summers third important fifth wicket century partnership. The pair picked up two important batting points 40-30 and Sargent passed his sole county hundred of the summer. He has been a pleasure to have been involved with since his debut as an under 14 with the sixteens. In this innings he faced one hundred and forty-eight balls hitting fifteen fours in his important 103. Ben Phillips contribution had been equally important and Devon were now deuce. Devon reached the third batting point in the fifty-fourth over when Phillips was then caught by Scriven off the fifth ball of the same over for a terrific ninety-five ball seventy-nine - nine fours and a six. Devon has accomplished all their objectives most of Sandy Allen's boxes had been ticked and Rudolph as his final act called his side in - advantage Devon. They had played outstandingly and did end up runners up which after the disasters at Exmouth was a major achievement. Somerset were genuinely wished success in their two semi-finals.

In reviewing the summer Devon scored 3031 runs averaging 31 against their opponents 2863 at 28. They took 104 wickets against 97 by our opposition. Both statics show how much the players put into a season that particularly in the three day game went exceptionally well. It is hoped that the disasters against Worcestershire will not be repeated and that in 2017 we will be able to reduce the size of squad from the twenty-three that played in 2016. In reality the days of squads of fourteen, although preferable, have gone. Devon had five batsmen that averaged over thirty and three over forty. Tom Lammonby was on for a record breaking summer when his back injury brought an early conclusion and an opportunity to visit Broadmasters Festival! Hagan-Burt and Sargent both also scored over four hundred runs and in all six hundreds were scored. Phillips and Khan were both missed from the three day game but all-rounders Rudolph and Ward had exceptional summers with both bat and ball. Max Hancock, until his injury ruled him out, made a marked impression and it was reassuring that after an indifferent start to the summer Matt Petherbridge bravely fought back to retail the control that is essential to his bowling. With the loss of Hagan-Burt the opening bowlers Gibbs and Szymanski both performer heroically and it is hoped that both will play a full part in 2017. Oli Reed is the unsung hero of the side, mister reliably, always contributing in some way. What was disappointing, at least from a planning viewpoint, was that by the end of the summer only three sixteens were featuring and one - the truly exceptional keeper, Sam Maunder is not likely to be involved. This will put the side under pressure for the twenty-sixth under seventeen competitive season.

The three day game has added increased pressure in finding suitable grounds and hopefully a rota will be the long term solution. Exmouth and Sandford were extraordinary hosts as were the one day Clubs Heathcoat and Seaton. We are really fortunate to still be able to call on such reliable and generous clubs. Sandy Allen, now on his Level 4 course and very well thought of at the UOE, again provided the expertise and the necessary reality checks and his white board spoke nothing but common sense. He played his part magnificently. The scorer, who really is much more in her various guises, completed yet another summer as competently and contentiously as ever.