Tavistock v The President's XI

TAVISTOCK finished a disappointing season on a high note on Sunday with a convincing win over the President's eleven.

Stuart Munday, skippering for the President, won the toss and asked Steve Luffman to bat.

Steve Nicholson, more used to opening the bowling, and promising colt Will Simpson, strode out to face Munday and Mike Cherry of newly promoted Plymstock. The openers took the score to 23 before Simpson drove at Cherry only to edge to gully where Mark Ewings made a one-handed catch two inches from the turf.

Nicholson joined him in the pavilion four runs later, trapped lbw for a good looking 16 runs.

This brought together Luffman and John McGahey, who added 40 in quick time. Luffman was particularly severe on Munday, hitting him for six in one over then three successive fours in the next.

Just before lunch Adrian Towl, who had replaced Cherry, had McGahey expertly caught down the leg side by Robert Jarman from an inside edge for 6. Lunch was taken with the score on 77 for 3.

The game restarted with a bang as Luffman and John Rich plundered 16 runs from Gosling's opening over with Luffman completing his half-century in the next over from Towl.

Gosling gained his revenge when Luffman was stumped down the leg side by Jarman.

Three balls later, ex-skipper Gosling bowled ex-skipper Andy Gauler for a duck. He claimed his third wicket in quick time when Rich was neatly caught by Tim Redman at slip for 14 patient runs — Tavistock 105 for 5.

Dave Manning joined Phil Stephens and proceeded to play the ball to all parts of the field. Munday reintroduced Cherry to the attack and the ploy worked, Munday himself completing the catch at mid-on to remove Manning for 22.

Dave Watson tried to follow Manning's lead but after one glorious boundary holed out to midwicket from Cherry's bowling.

Stephens played shots all around the wicket until he was the last man out and Cherry's fifth victim, when Ben Neale caught him for a classy 40.

In pursuit of Tavistock's 187 John Gosling and Tim Redman reached tea safely with the score on 1 for 0 from three overs. Following the break Nicholson was rewarded for a tight spell of bowling when Gosling edged to wicketkeeper Manning with the total on 11.

Jarman joined Redman and the pair added 45 runs before Redman was run out by an inspired piece of fielding from Stephens. The Cornishman stuck out a hand at gully and as Redman started for a run flicked the ball directly onto the wicket before most people had realised he even had it.

Vic Voisey came and went in four balls, getting a leading edge to Watson's occasional off spin to be caught at mid-on. When Geoff Crudgington played across a sharply turning ball from Steve Bray and was bowled for three the President's team stood at 66 for 4.

Thee runs later a catastrophe occurred for the batting side. Jarman was run out trying a risky second to the arm of Gauler for 29.

Watson clean bowled Munday first ball with a delivery reminiscent of Vaughans' to dismiss Tendulkar and at 80 for 7 things were looking bleak.

Towl and Cherry had other ideas and set about the run chase in determined fashion, Luffman switched his bowlers around and hit the jackpot with Rich. First he had Cherry caught lbw down at mid-off by Stephens for 13, then Towl fell to the same combination for a well struck 20 and finally Neale was caught at the wicket for 7.

The final tally was 123 with Mark Ewings unbeaten on 3 and Tavistock the winners by 64 runs.

After the match there were speeches and presentations made to the tea ladies for their efforts through the season and everyone agreed they were deserved for the food presented throughout President's Day alone.

Margaret Manning also received a bouquet in thanks for her excellent scoring throughout the season.

President Eric Jarman presented the trophies won by the players for the season as follows: First XI batting award, Dave Manning; First XI bowling award Tshepo Legodi; First XI all rounder award, Steve Luffman. Second XI batting award, John Rich; Second XI bowling award Roger Rich; Second XI all rounder award, Will Simpson. Colts batting award, Dave Downham; Colts bowling award, Ben Neale; Colts all rounder award, Will Simpson.

A special award was made to Geoff Crudgington in recognition of the hard work he has put in over the past few years running the second team.

The Maurice Avery trophy was won for the second year in succession by Mike and Jenny Crocker for their unceasing work behind the bar and in the tea room. Their contribution was matched by Andy and Pauline Rich who received the Dot Avery trophy.