OKEHAMPTON'S rugby and football teams squared up against each other on Sunday — for a game of cricket.
The friendly game at Simmons Park preceded the Neal Cousins Memorial Day cheque presentation — funds for the £6,000 cheque were raised at the memorial day in May. It was presented to television personality Noel Edmonds who accepted it on behalf of the Exeter Leukaemia Fund.
The football club won the toss and put the rugby lads in to bat.
Opening bowler Nick Jones tore into the Rugby Club's top order with a devastating spell of pace bowling, taking 3 wickets for 3 runs in 2 overs before retiring from the attack.
With an abundance of quick bowling available to the footballers captain, the rugby boys continued to struggle with only opening batsman Rob Arthurs holding the innings together with a fine knock of 45.
Good support came late on from Perry Vallance and Dave Watts scoring 29 and 14.
Also looking good with his walk to the crease was number 11 batsman Ian Langridge; unfortunately he was bowled first ball.
The tenth wicket went down with the score on 101, but it was felt this total would not trouble the Football Club so they generously allowed the rugby lads to carry on, using up the allotted 30 overs.
They finished with a good total of 188 for 13 thanks mainly to a hard hitting second knock from Adam Holiday of 38, being particularly punishing on the bowling of Steve Harris.
However, the highlight of the innings came as the two splendid catches taken at first slip by the Football Club's secretary Colin Beer.
The footballers knew they couldn't hang around chasing this larger target but with good tight bowling from Holiday, Dave Watts and Richie Gee, runs were hard to come by, hence they scored only 29 runs for 2 wickets off 10 overs.
The fall of the second wicket brought Steve Harris to the crease, who was immediately dropped on 2 by Nick Holiday.
This turned out to be an expensive drop, as Harris went on to bludgeon the Rugby Club's bowling attack, being particularly severe on Holiday himself, Langbridge and Tim A Donavan.
With the footballers' total on 137 for 5, Harris retired on 73 not out. With 9 overs to go and only 32 runs needed, it looked to be heading for an easy Football Club win.
But with the return of Watts and Arthurs the rugby lads tightened the screw. It was all to be in vain, as Colin Beer and Lloyd Chapman saw the footballers home in the last over, ending what was a very enjoyable day.