For the second successive trip across from Staffordshire to Nottinghamshire the chosen McDonalds proved elusive to such an extent that one vehicle ended up at Nottingham University. On arrival the mini-bus found The Bridge, which had originally been booked for our intended visit the following night, but they had requested we pre order three days in advance, however despite our arrival being sprung on them they expertly fulfilled our order and helped bailed us out. Having earlier passed the Best Western on the way to the Pub it proved initially difficult for our route planner to find and it was obvious the M1 was experiencing some extraordinary congestion problems with hundreds of flashing lights reminiscent of a multi-million dollar disaster movie. When found the accommodation was reasonable and a 9.00am depart time agreed.

It was an easy drive to the attractive Attenborough ground for our second visit and a pleasure to meet up with Matt Wood again. The format of the game was agreed with a later start set on the second day to allow the home side to collect their GCSE results. The captain again called heads and Devon batted with the game starting fifteen minutes early to make up some of the time to be lost on day two. Devon openers Abraham Koppasrambil and Sam Read started on what ended a s a new record under 16 opening partnership, they batted through to lunch scoring at just under fours. This was an outstanding performance for the two batsmen that had been opening for most of the summer for the seventeens. At lunch, baked potatoes and cheesecake, Kopparambil was on sixty-nine and Read ten less. The home side had tried ten bowlers to try and break the partnership. The one fifty was passed in the second over after lunch and the previous highest opening partnership - 169 (Harvey Sargent / Noah Wright 2015) - in the forty-second over. Sam Read was caught in the next over for seventy-five having hit eleven fours and two sixes off his one hundred and twenty-four balls. Kopparambil was seventeen short of another hundred. This partnership was the fifth highest Under 16 stand and was completed in forty-two and a half overs. James Horler and Kopparambil added forty-seven as Horler departed on double Nelson, Kopparambil and J White added the essential ten when the Bovey batsman was out on his one hundred and sixty-ninth ball having completed another ton at this level. He had scored one hundred and seven striking fourteen fours. This was his fourth hundred at sixteens this summer  and he now holds the record for the highest number of individual centuries in sixteens history - a remarkable achievement. J White and Jack Moore added thirty. J White was caught after another cameo innings and Devon were on two hundred and sixty two with just thirty-three balls remaining until the agreed declaration. Without doubt one of the real successes of the 2018 season has been the development, in the seventeens, of the sixteens, none more than the two batsmen now  at the crease Jack Moore and Luke Medlock. The pair added two a ball to take Devon up to 328-4 off sixty-five overs. The visitors had scored at just over five and perhaps more importantly in their long term aim to reach their fifty- per cent target had not lost a wicket for less than ten. Moore completed another fifty with a strike rate of 146.15 and Medlock scored at 127.27 following up his splendid performance at Wolverhampton.

Devon would bowl forty-three overs before the close of play at seven minutes past seven. The home side lost three wickets in reaching one hundred and eighty-four and you realised why Mick Newell was watching Nottinghamshire's Menzhausen with a view to selecting him for Notts twos. At close he was one run past his hundred. Notts lost their first wicket when Tom Simmons had Lumb caught behind to give James Horler the first of his four catches in the innings. Nottingham had scored sixty-two off thirteen overs. Fourteen runs past three figures Sam Read took the second wicket with the assistance of that ever reliable fielder Luke Medlock. The final wicket of the day was another caught behind but this time off the captain eight balls before close of play. Again huge traffic congestion created by accidents on the M6 and a local incident slowed up the return journey but fortunately the major flow problems were in the opposite direction. The Eaton Farm was the venue for the season's final meal and again we were well looked after with the scorer enjoying the Carvery. Rain was in the air as Devon departed and it rained overnight.

The second day started in bright sunshine but showers were due around close of play. Contentment was the general message with regard the players results as Devon took the opportunity of the delayed start to agree ground rules and codes for the 2019 Under 17 season. An interesting discussion was undertaken and it will be fascinating, at the end of the 2019 season, to revisit the agreed ethos and approach to our cricket next year. The Midland Tour jinx had struck again as Sam Woodward had injured his shoulder fielding on the first day and would not be able to bowl. Typical of Woodcock this restriction in movement did not affect in any way his ability to patrol a boundary and he was at his brilliant best in the fourth innings run chase. Devon took the remaining seven wickets before lunch. Tom Mitch bowled King in the fifth over and Horler held a smart catch to give Tom Simmons the wicket of Kaye. Nottinghamshire where now two hundred and two for five. The Plymstock all-rounder took his second wicket with Kopparambil adding to his growing list of catches to remove the excellent Menizhausen for an identical score to that made by the catcher. Bertie Creer, whose own preferred length is likely to be more effective against the tail had Park caught by Tom Mitch, Eddie Rudolph ran out Holder.  The home sides  captain Jandu obviously enjoyed finding the mid wicket boundary and once this was eventually blocked Creer picked up a second wicket to give keeper Horler his final catch of the innings. Sam Read trapped Blatherwick in front to end the home sides innings. Devon had a first innings lead of fifty to build upon. Devon had added another forty runs before lunch without loss - pasta and cheesecakes.

Devon were one hundred and twenty-two ahead when they lost their first wicket in the third post lunch over when Read departed. His opening partner went twenty eight balls later with a top score of forty-one. Devon lost another seven wickets with four partnerships under ten and only Sam Woodcock achieved a strike rate of over 100. After thirty-nine overs Jack Moore called his side in setting Notts to score two hundred and sixteen off forty-overs - just below five and a half an over.

They started well reaching one hundred and three in the twenty-third over when Moore bowled the talented Menzhausen who had scored sixty-five. Up until then he had employed five bowlers including the new brand Abraham Kopparambil bowling off spin with a leg spinners action! The final twenty overs were always going to be the key in this chase and fourteen of these were bowled by the two M's Medlock and Moore and the home side advanced from one hundred to one hundred and sixty-six  going at under five. At the start of the thirty-seventh over Nottinghamshire needed forty-three with eight wickets in hand so the bowlers and fielders had worked incredibly effectively. The boundaries had been well protected with intellegent field settings and although the likely outcome of this game was to be either a win for the home side or a draw the final result of a draw was an excellent outcome for this group of players. Tom Simmons removed Lumb for sixty-three and Martindale for one. Jandu reversered Read to be bowled, Medlock completed an excellent season with a run out and Tom Simmons caught King off the last ball of the season to give Read another wicket and leave the home side twenty-six short. This had been another worthwhile game of cricket and Devon very much enjoy their trips up to Nottinghamshire who are exceptional hosts. The end of season discussions with the players proved to be useful and in some instances more enlightening than first anticipated. With the fifteens very narrowly failing to win the National Under 15 Cup, competition for the winter squad let alone next summer will be intense. The final photograph of the season was taken as the predicated rain arrived. McDonalds did not produce this time an English Rugby Coach but a family on their way to the final Graeme Townsend Memorial game.

Scorecard