Cornwood IV 77 all out Dartington & Totnes II 80 for 1
D&T beat Cornwood by 9 wickets
Rained off on the previous weekend D&T’s second XI were keen to get their League season going and they started with an emphatic victory. D&T fielded an experienced team whilst Cornwood fielded a mixture of youth and experience but experience won the day.
Losing the toss, Cornwood were asked to bat first on damp track and D&T’s opening bowlers Nick Dennis and Steve Mudge kept things very tight. Mudge soon struck with a delivery which kept low and bowled Cornwood skipper Fitzpatrick. Mudge, who had an outstanding spell conceding only 6 runs in 9 overs, then trapped Gibson lbw. Dennis joined the party having Knight caught by Mudge and then bowling Collins, reducing Cornwood to 15 for 4 and in dire straights.
Cornwood rallied with the experienced Paul Skeemer showed aggressive intent and hitting some lusty blows, whilst partner Jake May largely blocked at the other end. Mudge was unlucky when Skeemer was dropped at point. Skeemer was eventually surprised by a turning delivery from Glenn Colegate which bowled him for 31 and half the side were out for 57. May soon followed, well caught by Mudge at long on off Rusling. Colegate 2 for 31, picked up another wicket before Nick Carter polished off the last three wickets in nine balls. Carter, who was making a cricketing comeback after several years, struck with his first delivery having Newton caught behind by Neil Colegate. The excitement proved too much for him and his next delivery was wide. But he dismissed Dan Skeemer with his next ball again reverting to a wide. Carter bowled another wide in his next over, before having Marker caught, to finish with 3 for 3.
D&T opened their batting with debutant John Perkins and the ever-dependable Mike Jarvis. Farmer Perkins won his place at the top of the order as he had to leave early to milk cows but showed that he had the ability demanded for the job, playing an anchor role and finishing undefeated on 17. Jarvis hit a quickfire 20 before cracking a delivery straight to deep backward square leg where Tracey took an excellent catch. Neil Colegate (23 not out) finished the job off quickly despatching some indifferent bowling whilst still giving the bowlers some hope. Next week the 2s travel to darkest Cornwall to play Plympton IIIs, which is likely to be a sterner test of their mettle.