DEVON U15s finished on a high in the ECB Championship – but a freak thunderstorm cost them a potential place in the play-off stages.
Their last game of the season saw them beat Oxfordshire by 10 runs at Seaton. But the damage was done the week before when a trip to bottom team the Isle of Wight was cancelled the night before the scheduled game after a thunderstorm flooded the ground at Ryde and it was ruled unfit.
Devon had to beat Oxford and then defeat the Isle of Wight in a hoped-for rearranged game. At first all went according to plan with the defeat of Oxfordshire - but then the ECB hierarchy refused to allow the group games deadline of Sunday, August 4 to be extended, albeit by just a couple of days.
Devon had to accept the Isle of Wight game as an abandonment and the one point that went with it.
Devon had won the same number of games as nearest rivals Dorset. But Dorset had managed to play all their games, which included one tied match. The two points for the tie was enough for Dorset to top the group by just one point from Devon.
Jim Parker, Devon’s coach-manager, said: “This group of lads have come on in leaps and bounds both as a team and individuals in the past couple of year and getting this far in this year's competition was testimony to that.
"I personally appealed to the ECB to extend the deadline, but they weren't for shifting. It is hugely disappointing for the players and they are the most important people in all of this. Fair? I will let other people be the judge of that."
Bideford youngster James Hayter made all the headlines with his maiden county century in the win over Oxfordshire. The opener scored 109 off just 144 balls with 11 fours.
Sam Russell (32) and skipper Jasper Presswell (26) were also in the runs as Devon finished on 235.
Paignton all-rounder Archie Farkins (3-28), and Shaldon spinner Josh Couch (3-27) were Devon's most successful bowlers with Rory Medlock (2-45) also chipping in as the visitors were dismissed for 225.
Devon completed the 2019 campaign with two T20 friendlies against touring Nottinghamshire, also at Seaton the following day.
Notts scored 128 for five from with Couch finishing with 2-23 in the first game.
Russell (39) and Farkins (25) gave Devon some hope, but they eventually finished just four runs short of victory.
The home county made up for the defeat in the second game, winning it convincingly by 43 runs.
Cornwood's Ciaran Gray went on the attack from ball one and hit 74 from just 54 balls, which included 12 fours and one six.
Farkins (27) and skipper Presswell 36no helped the home side to a final tally of 162 for five.
Ethan Cross - called into the squad at the last minute - did himself proud with a four-wicket haul and Charlie Presswell finished with figures of 2-5 as Notts settled 43 runs away on 119 or nine
Manager Parker, who with coach Tim Ward took over the side just two years ago, said: "They had won just one game in four years when they came to us.
“The transformation has been entirely down to them and their willingness to listen and learn and work hard. They have been a pleasure to work with."
Scoreboard
Devon 235 (J Hayter 109, S Russell 32, J Presswell 26); Oxfordshire 225 (A Farkins 3-28, R Medlock 2-45, J Couch 3-27). Devon bt Oxfordshire by 10 runs.
Notts 128-5 (J Couch 2-23); Devon 125-9 (S Russell 39, A Farkins 25). Notts bt Devon by 3 runs.
Devon 162-5 (C Gray 74, A Farkins 27,J Presswell 36no), Notts 119-9 (E Cross 4-22, C Presswell 2-5) Devon bt Notts by 43 runs.
