Tavistock 1st XI v

Seaton 1st XI

TAVISTOCK went down to their third loss on the trot at Kelly College on Saturday as Seaton made the long trip home with 20 points in the bag.

Having won the toss, Tavistock batted and got away to a great start with Dave Watson (40) and Ian Law (42) putting on 72 for the first wicket.

Watson drove well through the offside field and was only removed by a sharp catch at short cover after hitting five fours.

John McGahey joined Law and dominated a stand of 30, making 27, which took Tavistock past 100, before being out to long off.

He was followed by Law who had batted patiently but suffered a rush of blood when trying to hit the bowler out of the ground and was caught by Woodward at point.

Dave Manning was now joined by Steve Luffman and runs came steadily for the next few overs.

Seaton skipper Greg Foxwell prompted the turning point of the match by bringing Lee Parsons into the attack. He immediately had Dave Manning lbw for a fluent 21 and clean bowled Tshepo Legodi two balls later to reduce Tavistock to 160 for 5.

That brought Bob Luscombe out to join skipper Luffman and they added 41 taking the score to 201 for 5.

Luscombe showed maturity and a straight bat making 12 and Luffman hit the ball hard through the off side for 58, including 7 fours and 2 sixes. When Parsons dismissed Luffman with five overs left and 201 on the board, 230 looked more than possible, but Tavistock collapsed to be all out on 208 in the 49th over.

Seaton set off at a tremendous rate led by Somerset staffer Grant Hodinett. He was severe on anything a fraction short. Tshepo Legodi was as hostile as ever with the new ball and unlucky not to dismiss the other opener Strawbridge, but Steve Nicholson tempted him to edge an outswing to Manning with the score on 25.

Hodinett had played himself in by now and cut loose, hitting Nicholson for five fours in one over. Together he and Parsons added 97 for the second wicket before both were dismissed with the score on 122.

Parsons became Olly Hicks' first league victory when he pulled the ball to midwicket where John McGahey accepted the catch. Andy Gauler bowled Hodinett for 85 and the game was back in the melting pot.

Gauler struck again having Seaton skipper Greg Foxwell plumb lbw with 73 still required and Ross Newton was joined by wicketkeeper Arbourne. Both men rode some luck but by the end Newton was driving and hooking with gusto and guided the visitors home with no further loss. He finished on 63 not out, while Arbourne had 18 not out.

Gauler finished with 2 for 38 from his ten overs and Ian Law, who bowled in the heat of Hodinett's onslaught, had a praiseworthy 15 over, 1 maiden, 67 runs, 0 wickets.

Tavistock claimed 7 points while Seaton took 20 and move to second in the table.Tavistock thanked the Ordulph Arms who sponsored the game.

This week Tavistock visit Budleigh Salterton who feature ex-Gloucester bat Bobby Dawson and ex-Somerset skipper Peter Roebuck.