BELSTONE maintained their run of good form with three victories last week.

On Saturday, players and spectators enjoyed fine weather and entertaining cricket for the annual President's match.

President Peter Hammond had assembled a team of experienced campaigners and they contained Belstone to 157 for 8 wickets off 40 overs.

There were solid contributions all down the order, with Richard Drake top-scoring with 41, including two sixes.

A strong Belstone bowling attack meant that the President's XI were never in the hunt, being all out for 95 in the 27th over, with only Boarder, who hit four fours and a six in his 40 runs, reaching double figures.

After the match, players and vice-presidents were treated to a buffet meal in the village hall courtesy of Mr and Mrs Hammond.

Two days before, Belstone had gained revenge for an early season defeat by Yeoford in the Buckley Cup with a home win by 15 runs. Batting first, Belstone rattled up 36 in the first 6 overs before being pegged back to 100 for 8 wickets off their 20 overs.

Collins accounted for three of the top four in the order, returning figures of 3 for 13 in 4 overs, and keeper Nichols was kept busy with 2 catches and 2 stumpings.

Yeoford made a much slower start, thanks to an economical spell of 1 for 8 from 4 overs by Trevor Munkenbeck, and had only reached 39 by the halfway stage.

Although A Coren and Collins both retired on 25 runs, Yeoford could not accelerate enough, reaching 85 for 7 at the close. Belstone take 12 points from the game, and Yeoford 7 points.

On Sunday, Belstone entertained visitors Roborough in a South Devon League Division 3 game, and again took revenge for a heavy defeat earlier in the season.

Put in by captain Fraser Willis, Roborough never recovered from a slow start which saw only 16 runs come in the first 10 overs, including the prize scalp of Gaylard, who had made 106 in the earlier game.

Belstone maintained the pressure for the full 40 overs with tight bowling and lively fielding so the final score of 97 for 9 left them with an asking rate of just under 2.5 an over.

At first, progress was just as slow, with only 41 runs on the board at the 20-over mark, but a crucial partnership of 51 for the fourth wicket between Nick Cowley (29) and Dennis Edwards (18) gave the innings much needed impetus.

Victory came by 5 wickets with 8 overs to spare when Greg Cornish drove a straight six to ensure the home team gained a batting point for topping 100.

l Pictured above right are the Belstone first eleven.

Below right are the President's men.