WITH several regular players engaged in a Lancaster Cup match Hatherleigh brought a young Colts side to Rew Meadow for a Buckley Cup clash against Belstone last week. They started well with Richard Drake and Scott Tremain back in the pavilion with only 23 on the board, but inexperience began to show as 19 wides were conceded and Belstone players Phil Woods and Phil Dennis (both 25 ret) and Chris Walpole (26 ret) all cashed in on some friendly bowling to enable the home team to post a formidable 131 for five after their 20 overs. Hatherleigh began badly with Lee clean bowled to the opening ball of their reply, the first of four victims for Dennis (4-0-15-4), who also bowled skipper Andrew Fishleigh two balls after being hit back over his head for a fine straight six. Wickets continued to fall regularly to Chris Gomersall (4-1-7-1), Thomas Boother (4-0-12-2) and Henry Holmes (4-0-10-1) with only Gilbert (15) and Miles (18) reaching double figures as Belstone completed a 59-run victory. l After useful contributions from Keiran Joy (17) and Neil Perryman (24) Bridford's innings last Sunday at Rew Meadow was mainly built around a fifth wicket partnership of 60 between Danny Tidball and Jon Hole (36) which left them handily placed for a late acceleration at 128 for four with eight overs left. But Belstone skipper Richard Drake had other ideas as he brought himself into the attack and proceeded to take four wickets in 17 balls; with Phil Dennis (7-1- 22-3) chipping in at the other end the last six Bridford wickets tumbled for just 20 runs in four overs to leave them all out on 148. Roger MacMurdo took two early wickets and Fred Blackie (8-2-14-2) proved hard to get away but Drake capped a fine all-round performance with a dominating and well-paced knock of 72 not out which included ten boundaries. He was well supported by Simon Tremain who made 29 in his first visit to the crease this season and then by Dennis (28 not out) who finished the match in style with a six over long-on to give the home side a convincing six-wicket win with four overs to spare.
