A TEAM cannot expect to win when nine of their players can only score ten runs between them and so it proved when Belstone welcomed touring side Bristol St George to Rew Meadow last Thursday. The match started well enough for Belstone with both the visitors? openers removed with nine on the board thanks to catches by Thomas Boother at mid-on and by Chris Walpole in the gully off a full-bloodied cut from John Britton. Brown (13) and Russ Maynard (31) put on 53 for the next wicket but Luke Wonnacott (6-0-22-2) and Terry Jeal (7-0-24-1) chipped away at the middle order, so after 29 of the 35 overs available the score was only 106 for seven. Rather like Belstone?s game last week against Raleigh, a late order partnership then pushed the score up, this time as 39 was added for the eighth wicket in five overs between Dan Tripp (8) and Fraser Reeves, who hit two sixes in his 49 not out, leaving St George on 152 for eight at the close. Belstone started positively with Phil Woods hitting six boundaries and a six before he was third out for 47 with the score on 62. Andrew Paterson then played a captain?s innings, batting at No 4, but at the other end the aforementioned nine batsmen came and went in quick succession, especially against the bowling of Britton who took three for six off seven overs, with five maidens. Paterson was eventually last out for 38 to give St George the first win of their tour, by 47 runs. Two days later it was a case of déjà vu when another nine Belstone batsmen capitulated for just 18 runs between them as London tourists Fly By Knights recorded a 59 run win. Again, Belstone did well in the field restricting the visitors to 104 for eight after 30 overs thanks to tidy spells from Scott Tremain, Luke Wonnacott (8-0-38-2) and Chris Walsh (6-1-11-0). Brown (45) and Sims (42), who would normally have batted well up the order, then added 73 elegant runs for the ninth wicket before Tremain (9-0-39-4) removed them both in his final over to leave Fly By Knights all out for 178 with one over remaining. An appalling start saw Belstone two for two after the first over of their reply. The only partnership of note came when Dave Pethybridge (21) joined Tremain to add 49 for the fifth wicket. Tremain was eventually seventh out, having hit four big sixes over midwicket, for 50, taking his season?s aggregate to 280 at an average of 28.0. The innings folded soon afterwards as W Cookson claimed three for five from his 2.4 overs. With relegation threatening Belstone travelled to South Devon on Sunday for a ?must-win? game in the South Devon League division two and this time their batsmen performed consistently well, which made all the difference. Phil Woods (24) and Andrew Paterson (16) put on 47 for the first wicket, followed by another solid partnership of 66 for the third between Scott Tremain (29) and Wayne Pearce (six 4s in 53, his third half century of the season). I Rowland (9-2-23-1) bowled well in the middle of the innings but with extras chipping in with 26 and 14 coming off the last over from J Norrish (9-0-44-2), Belstone finished their 40 overs on a healthy 185 for six. South Devon raced ahead of the asking rate thanks to a breezy 40 from opener I Shepherd who was finally trapped leg before by Jonathan Parsons (8-1-44-1). Neil Rowlands (9-1-22-1) put the brakes on the scoring but they remained well on course while D Spicer (42) was at the crease; however once he was out to George Hall (3-0-6-1) South Devon declined quickly with all the Belstone bowlers getting among the wickets, Paterson wrapping things up with two for three at the end. The league reaches an exciting climax this Sunday, August 26, when Belstone play their final game at home against Raleigh, 2.30pm start. With the second relegation spot hanging in the balance Belstone need to win to stay in the second division. Spectators are very welcome for what should be an entertaining and dramatic match. South Devon League division 2 P W L NR Pts Brixham 11 5 1 5 98 Shaldon 12 4 4 4 78 Raleigh 10 5 3 2 77 Torquay 9 4 2 3 76 Belstone 11 3 4 4 71 S Devon 11 3 5 3 70 Exeter SJ 10 1 6 3 43
