WHITCHURCH Wayfarers started the rain-delayed season with mixed fortunes.

The Devon League side travelled to Dawlish and won by 35 runs. Asked to bat first, Whitchurch made 152 with the bulk of the runs coming from the middle order in the form of father and son Gavin and Richard Hall ably supported by Paul Newton. New captain Stuart Davies holding the tail together with an unbeaten 17.

At first it looked as though Dawlish would win easily as they set off well above the asking rate. Mat Mills and Neil Tamblin had other ideas and their introduction to the attack turned the game. They each took 4 wickets and Dawlish fell short of the target by 35 runs. Whitchurch entertain Roborough next weekend.

The first friendly fixture saw Whitchurch beaten by visitors Keyham & Buckfastleigh in the last over. For most players this was their first game of the season, carefully acquired winter poundage was clearly evident.

A solid start was made by Rae and Whittingham who put on 98 for the first wicket. New boy Andrew Wright, a visitor from Australia contributed a solid 23. A total of 190 was above average for this time of the season.

The opposition batting always looked too strong for the Whitchurch bowling.

Kit Reeve was the only bowler who contained the batsmen with Roger Whittingham making a late burst towards the end.

A small team of volunteers, led by John Sellis and Rob Rawlings, have almost finished rebuilding the pavilion at Whitchurch. Greeting players and visitors alike is a compact and high quality facility that will be the envy of many clubs when it is completed in a few weeks time.