ALPHINGTON visited Belstone's Rew Meadow on Sunday week at the start of this Indian summer.
They were struggling at 43 for five, with Fraser Willis removing three batsmen in his first five overs at a cost of only nine runs. Newberry and Stanley, who both made 37, then began the recovery which saw the visitors finish at tea on 124 for nine.
After six innocuous overs and eight runs scored, Belstone's batsmen suffered an attack of end-of-season madness, losing all their wickets while scraping an additional 19 runs, thus equalling their lowest ever total.
Newberry and Stanley also starred with the ball; they bowled unchanged through the debacle with five wickets each.
A hectic finale to Belstone's season last Sunday saw three games played - albeit one of them a 15-over match after an early finish against Pinhoe - and one trophy added to the mantlepiece.
In the morning they travelled to Tedburn St Mary for a re-arranged Buckley Cup game. Needing four points to ensure the cup was regained from last year's winners Yeoford, skipper Richard Drake put Tedburn in to bat.
Rob Sandercock claimed three early wickets, and although Baker (18) held the innings together, several good catches and a farcical run out ensured that the home side were restricted to 80 in their 20 overs.
In reply, Belstone were always ahead of the asking rate thanks to sixes and fours from Drake, who fell to a spectacular diving catch in the covers by Neil Branton, Aidan Easterbrook (23) and Chris Walpole (25 retired), eventually reaching their target with four overs to spare.
After lunch Pinhoe arrived at Rew Meadow and were summarily dismissed for 38 in the 25th over after only 80 minutes' play.
Turning his arm for the first time this season, Dennis Edwards opened the attack, conceding only 11 runs from ten overs. At the other end Jonathan Parsons proved even more of a handful, claiming the first three wickets for only nine runs.
Harry Bushin and Aidan Easterbrook completed the rout with two wickets each. Littleton clean-bowled three Belstonians but the target was reached without incident in just 25 minutes and 7.1 overs.
Overall this season Belstone have played 36, won 22, lost 11, drawn 2, tied 1.
All Belstone players are invited to attend a players' meeting to be held at 8pm on Monday September 23 at The Tors. The club's annual dinner and awards night takes place at Okehampton Rugby Club on Friday October 25.
l Buckley Cup table at September 15:
P Pts
Belstone 8 90
Yeoford 7 59
Spreyton 7 55
Sticklepath 6 47
Tedburn 6 43