NEWLY promoted Whitchurch Seconds found life much harder in their first game in the C Division. However, shorn of many of their star players from last season, the youngsters standing in, performed well in a narrow defeat against Kentisbeare 2nds. As per usual Whitchurch lost the toss and were invited to bat at possibly the smallest ground in the league. Asked to open Keith Coulston performed above his station as Whitchurch rattled along at five an over after the early loss of Hodge. Coulston added 90 for the second wicket with Alford and in doing so, completed a deserved half century. After a wobble, Whitchurch looked set to post a challenging target, when they were 123 for 3. However, a combination of some careless running between the wickets and poor shot selection, saw the middle order crumble with only a feisty 32 from Daymond and a generous portion of 45 extras helping Whitchurch set the home team a reasonable target of 177 for victory. Chave took 3 wickets for Kentisbeare, with Howe, Weston and Durrant each chipping in with a brace. On such a small ground the target was not defendable, so Whitchurch?s only hope was to take 10 wickets. After a few big hits Tinley was well caught on the boundary by Tamblin off Ingram. Whitchurch?s bowling was threatening but often strayed yielding 32 extras off their own, the majority in wides. However wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Ingram completed a marathon spell of 15 overs with 3-54. Alford removed the stubborn Reed for 35 and Tamblin added another two wickets. At 107 for 5 the match was on a knife edge. M Howe (36) and H Howe (17) steadied Beare?s ship, until both fell to the aggressive bowling of Sambells. Whitchurch?s fielding throughout was of an excellent standard, but eventually a lack of runs proved their undoing as Beare scraped home to win by two wickets. This week Whitchurch host Chudleigh.
