IT SHOULD have been the biggest day yet in Tavistock Cricket Club's season
Everything was in place on Sunday to receive Sidmouth in the semi-final of the Devon Cup — everything, that is, except the weather.
Sunday morning's deluge virtually submerged the Ring, and a postponement of the tie became inevitable. The game will now be played this coming Sunday, August 20 with a 2pm start. If Tavistock are successful, they will play in the final on the following Sunday.
Sunday's disappointment was in sharp contrast to the confidence and optimism shown on Saturday, when the first eleven swept to a convincing victory at the Ring in the latest of their league encounters.
The visitors, United Services, Plymouth, were restricted to a total of 141 for 9, with Tshepo Legodi, Andy Tremellen, Adam Bridgewater and Simon Crawford sharing the wickets.
It is particularly pleasing to see Tremellen and Bridgewater, two good young prospects, bowling tight and getting their rewards. They bowled, between them 16 overs for 51 runs and 4 wickets.
The Tavistock batting seemed to have the target well in focus, with Ian Law making 23 and Steve Luffman 48, but there was a now-familiar middle-order wobble.
Eventually, Andy Rich and David Manning struck a few blows and Andy Gauler and Tshepo Legodi saw the side home by 4 wickets.
This victory puts Tavistock within one point of top-of-the-table, Axminster, and 16 points clear of the third-placed side.
With three matches to go there is all to play for, but promotion to the A Division looks an increasingly likely prospect.
The second eleven's journey to Ipplepen resulted in a drawn game.
The home side made 227 for 7, with Paul Tomkies taking 3 for 48 and John Rich 2 for 23.
Faced with a stiff challenge, the top half of the Tavistock batting order kept the score moving, but after the departure of Bobby Luscombe for 55 and Maurice Craze for 27 the innings subsided, and it was left to John Rich, with a not out 27, to stay with the tail to achieve a draw.
Stumps were drawn with the visitors 175 for 9.
The approaching weekend at the Ring will see the re-scheduled County Cup semi-final against Sidmouth on Sunday. Also featured will be the penultimate home game of the first eleven's league campaign, against Hatherleigh. This match, on Saturday, will be sponsored by Worth's the Jewellers.
All league fixtures for both Elevens until the end of the season will now begin at 1.30pm. It's all building up to a nice climax to an eventful season. Let's hope the rain stays away.