Francis Clark Devon League A division

Tavistock v Budleigh Salterton

TAVISTOCK lost the toss and with it the match on Saturday at Budleigh. The rain-affected wicket was always going to be a major influence.

Neil Murrin, the hosts' skipper, opted to bowl and his opening pair of Paul Heys and Dave Mitchell took advantage of the conditions. In addition to the difficulties of the pitch the outfield was slow so Dave Watson and Andy Kaitiff did not get the full value for their strokes.

Despite the problems it took some bad luck to achieve the breakthrough. Dave Watson shaped to cut a short, wide ball which clipped the bottom of his bat and found its way onto the leg stump.

That made Tavistock 15 for 1, which soon changed to 16 for 2 when Phil Stephens was caught behind off Heys.

When Dave Manning followed, caught and bowled by Heys, also for a duck, things were looking bleak. John McGahey joined Kaitiff needing to mount a recovery and they took the score to 31. Then Kaitiff was trapped lbw.

Skipper Steve Luffman joined McGahey. Heys began to tire and Luffman took advantage, hitting him over long off for six and next ball lashing him through the covers for four. It proved to be a false dawn as ex-Somerset captain Peter Roebuck replaced Mitchell and immediately caused problems.

McGahey nicked him between keeper and first slip in his first over and in his second deceived Luffman with a slower ball and knocked back his leg stump. The pair had added 24 which was to prove to be the highest stand Tavistock could manage.

Tshepo Legodi started with a couple of blistering off drives from Heys. Roebuck was having none of it, though, and bowled Legodi with another slower ball. Young Dave Downham followed, caught behind off Jerry Crooker and Tavistock were 83 for 7.

The end came in a rush, starting with Andy Gauler being yorked by Roebuck for 1. In the next over Crooker removed McGahey with possibly the worst ball he bowled all day. Somehow McGahey managed to hit a wide toss into cover points' hands to end his innings on 36. It had been a valiant effort which deserved a better fate, but Crooker cashed in on his luck with a superb yorker next ball to remove Olly Hicks and end Tavistock's innings on 88.

Budleigh had to bat for half an hour before tea, which openers Murrin and Rob Newman negotiated without any mishap. Resuming on 34 for no wicket Tavistock struck immediately. Luffman bowled Newman. Andy Tremellen then clean bowled new batsman Mark Newing first ball and Budleigh were 39 for 2.

The wobble became a shake when Luffman struck again one run later, Paul Escott caught at slip by Phil Stephens, 40 for 3.

The sight of Roebuck striding to the wicket was reassuring for Budleigh and he calmly set about steadying the ship. In his next over Luffman pulled a groin and had to stop bowling.

Murrin and Roebuck took the score to 69 before Kaitiff tricked Roebuck into giving McGahey a catch. Murrin was now joined by Mitchell and they steered Budleigh past Tavistock's score without further problems.

They collected 18 points while Tavistock registered 2.

Tavistock have slipped into the danger zone and things are not about to get easier as they play the division leaders and the second placed team in the next two weeks. On Saturday Abbotskerswell provide the opposition at the Ring in a game sponsored by the Garage Door Company.