Devon division C

Chagford v Ivybridge

FOR those who believe low scoring games are more exciting to play in and watch rather than run feasts then this proved to be true in the nail biting top of the table clash between joint top Chagford and third placed Ivybridge.  

Ivybridge were two wickets for four runs thanks to the efforts of Duncan Christophers and Del Lammonby. However Skipper Andy Johnson and Banks took the score to 36 before Johnson fell  to Mark Gribble for 21.

Banks went on to make a confident 29 and Karl Prescott 14 but no one else  reached double figures and Ivybridge were all out for 102 in 42.1 overs. 

Spinners Mark Gribble 3 for 9, Jerry Christophers 3 for 28 and Neil Rowlands 1-6 did the damage to back up the pace attack of Lammonby 2 for 30 and Duncan Christophers 1 for 20.

If Ivybridge had made a bad start than Chagford was even worse. They lost their first wicket at 14, the second at 28 but collapsed  to an 33 for 6 with Gribble 13, Lammonby (1,) Coburn (0) Mortimore (0) Niven (0) and Rowlands (1) all back in the pavilion.

Pace bowling from Phil Veale accounted for five of the wickets — ending on 5-24 — and some poor attacking shots from the Chagford batsmen.

However number three Andy Paterson has stood firm throughout this carnage and joined by club captain Jerry Christophers carefully took the score to 93 before Paterson was bowled by Trent for a hard working and valuable 36.

Christophers then took Chagford to victory by three wickets with plenty of overs left.   

     This win assured Chagford of promotion with one game to play.

Chagford Cricket Club in their recent run had seven straight victories but in so doing dropped only four points in that time amassing 136 points out of a possible 140 — a magnificent effort by the team.

l At the bottom of the table an improved Bridestowe side had a convincing victory against bottom club Tiverton and Bickleigh scoring 241 for 6 and bowling out the Tiverton side for 96. This gives Bridestowe 20 points and although still in a relegation spot are just four points behind Feniton although they face a tough task away at Cockington a good result could enable them to avoid relegation and some rewards for their recent performances.