Buckley Cup Belstone v Sticklepath STICKLEPATH came up just eight runs short of Hatherleigh Colts? total of 126 in their first Buckley Cup match but their batsmen failed to get going against Belstone last week, giving the home side a convincing 50-run win. Belstone?s middle order of Phil Woods (27 ret), Harry Bushin (26 ret), Pete Gross (24) and Andrew Paterson (19) ensured a respectable 20-over score of 122 for six. Sticklepath had no answer to the opening attack of Jonathan Parsons (3 for 15) and Bushin (2 for 6) so that after eight overs they had slumped to 22 for five. Buster Francis (1 for 9) kept up the pressure taking a wicket with his first ball in senior cricket as the visitors ended on 72 all out with only Loram (17 not out) offering any resistance. South Devon League division two Belstone v Torquay BELSTONE began their latest league match on Sunday in sensational fashion as Parsons sent back both Torquay openers in the first over of the match. Rice (41) and Craig (42) repaired the damage with a third wicket partnership of 88 in 22 overs before skipper Paterson removed them both in his sixth over. After that, wickets fell steadily to a series of good catches to leave the home side all out for 155 with two balls of the 40 overs remaining. Belstone looked to be well on their way to victory as their opening partnership added 51 in eleven overs, thanks mainly to 34 from Richard Drake. Three wickets then fell at that score as Andy Yau began a match-turning spell of nine overs, five for 36. Neil Rowlands (16), Chris Gomersall (19) and Bushin (14) all got a start but Yau kept taking wickets at crucial moments. Belstone were still in the hunt at 121 for seven but the running out of Gomersall at that score brought a rapid end - no further runs were added to give Torquay an easier 40 run win than appeared likely for most of the game.
