Tavistock seconds v Budleigh Salterton secs
Tavistock ended their league season with a thriller at the ring; it was a tail of two innings by the two captains.
Budleigh won the toss and put Tavistock into bat. On a wet helpful wicket Tavistock were soon in trouble at 23-3; captain McGahey was joined by Gibbs and a minor revival was started when McGahey's cover drove and cut for successive fours. However, Gibbs was gifted a full toss which he could only hit strait to the fielder. Phil Stephens joined his captain to rebuild the innings, but with the score on 88 he misread a slower delivery and lobbed it to mid-wicket for an easy catch.
Jamie Stephens joined McGahey and dug in; McGahey was getting the feel of this difficult pitch clattering runs to all parts. He then called Stephens through for an impossible single running out the young prospect; McGahey then fell short of a well earned 50 when he holed out at long off for 49. The innings then fell apart and Tavistock ended on 144.
The Budleigh reply got off to a great start with Leat crisply hitting some fine boundaries and on 44-0 they seemed to be cruising but there is a 'never say die attitude' to this Tavistock side. McGahey brought spinner Jamie Stephens into the attack and he had Rice caught for 17; then Jeffery had Leat stumped for 29, five more quick wickets fell and Tavistock had reduced Budleigh to 57-6. Jeffery then ended his fine spell of 3-23 off 15 overs. There was still everything to play for but Budleigh captain Taylor kept his cool and a rapid 16 by last man Hayes got Budleigh home with three ball to spare
Tavistock seconds South Devon seconds
SKIPPER John McGahey lost the toss so as it was wet Tavistock were asked to bat.
The South Devon side needed a win to keep their slim hopes of staying up alive but the Tavistock batsman had not read the script.
Goodchild and Webber piled on the runs before Goodchild was caught for 22, Gibbs then added a quick fire 26 before he was caught. Stephens and McGahey soon followed and when Webber went for a fine 66 Tavistock were in trouble. But down the order Tavistock have a true all rounder in Brett Thomas; he batted as good as a number three stoking the ball around for a fine 31, he was well supported by Andy Rich out of retirement for one day with 20 and weren't Tavistock glad. Downham swatted a quick 12 giving Tavistock a fine total of 200.
South Devon got off to a slow steady start putting on 62 for the first wicket, this put them very much in the hunt, but tight spells from Downham 3-31 and Jamie Stephens 2 for 27 put them behind the clock as they tried to up the tempo they lost wickets. Colt Aiden Mason bowled a good line picking up the wicket of Mathews for 16 which ended the chase and South Devon gave up, the game limped to a lifeless draw, but Tavistock were happy with their 14 points
Tavistock seconds v Bradnich seconds
When Tavistock left for the long trip to Bradnich they were promised sun the other side of Exeter and when they arrived it was beautiful until someone noticed a very black cloud, this then soaked the ground the start was delayed by half an hour but is was still very wet, don't loose the toss and bat on this the skippers were told but as usual McGahey called wrong and Tavistock had to bat
The Bradnich bowler Hussain was quick and he got the most out of the wicket which was lethal, the ball flew off a length and the young Tavistock batsmen suffered
8 for 3 was not a good start. Even the experienced Phil Stephens could do nothing with a ball that flew up and lobbed to gully. Captain McGahey started his innings with a text book cover drive, no need to run, he was well supported by Chidzoy but he struggled with Hussain's pace so McGahey took most of the strike from him until he got one that flew off a length fending it from in front of his face a 70 mph he could only watch in horror as the ball ballooned to first slip. Chidzoy's brave innings ended when he picked out the fielder on the boundary. Jamie Stephens, despite feeling unwell, bravely battled for 12 but when he was out Tavistock had slumped to 112 all out.
Tea was taken the sun shone and the wicket improved, but their was still some help and when Downham had Nichols caught in the gully for 9 Bradnich were 29 for 3
Downham's spell was accurate and menacing only going at 2 an over, But Acton and Fencl steadied the ship and once they got going the meagre total was soon reeled in and a crushing defeat for Tavistock.
Tavistock seconds v Barton seconds
Tavistock again lost the toss and batted first, Goodchild hit a fine 43 before loosing his leg stump he joined Webber and Milligan back in the hutch with the score on 81.
This was a good base to work from and a fluent 35 from John McGahey and 31 from all-rounder Thomas gave Tavistock an adequate total of 185 from their 50 over
Downham and James McGahey bowled an excellent opening spells with only 4 runs scored off the first 10 over's, James McGahey then got his reward Rob Milligan taking a breathtaking catch at Gully to remove Brothwell. Barton pushed on but lost wickets to the ever improving Johnny Smith taking three for himself.
Perrett and Drake had a really good go at reaching the target but when Perrett was run out buy Downham Tavistock hunted for a win, three more quick wickets fell but Drake reached a classy 50 and Barton held on for a Draw
Tavistock 14 points, Barton 9,