PRAYERS were at last answered at the Ring, and players and supporters of Tavistock Cricket Club were able to enjoy a weekend of uninterrupted and enjoyable cricket.

The fun began on Friday evening with a second round tie in the Lancaster Cup against Buckland Monachorum.

Tavistock scored 151 for 4, with Geoff Crudgington making 47, and David Manning, in his first game back after an injury that had delayed the start of his season, top-scoring with 73.

Mike Crocker with 5 for 22 and Steve Bray with 3 for 7 were mainly instrumental in reducing the visitors to 52 all out, giving Tavistock a winning margin of 99 runs and a ticket to the third round of this local competition.

The resumption of the Devon League programme after a blank week gave the second eleven the opportunity at the Ring to improve their position at the expense of Ippleden.

The visitors were confined to 146 for 9 in their 46 overs, largely through the efforts of veteran medium-pacers Mike Crocker and Stuart Munday who took, respectively 3 for 40 and 2 for 24.

The Tavistock reply featured a sound opening stand by Paul Tomkies and Clive Johns, but thereafter the batting subsided.

Despite a defiant undefeated 27 by Munday, the end came in the 39th over with the total on 100.

The first eleven travelled to Plymouth to play United Services, and found themselves, at tea, facing the prospect of scoring 152 to record their first league victory of the season.

In a seesaw innings they lost their first three wickets in double quick time, before skipper Steve Luffman, batting at Number 1, and Tshepo Legodi, steadied the ship, scoring 41 and 60 respectively.

Another collapse followed, putting the issue again in doubt until, with the last pair at the wicket, the winning run was hit. Much of the Tavistock batting had looked rather jittery. Perhaps with this win under their belts, their self-confidence will grow to match their ability

Sunday's match at the Ring was a senior county cup tie against Stoke Gabriel. With the home side on 100 for 0 after 20 overs and captain Luffman sailing along through the 70s, it looked as if Tavistock were set for an easy victory.

The lower-order batting did not quite manage to maintain the momentum, but, with John McGahey's 44 to add to Steve Luffman's 73 and John Jackson's 38, a satisfactory total of 206 for 7 from the 40 overs was achieved.

The Stoke Gabriel reply was never on terms with the asking-rate and when efforts were made to increase the rate, wickets fell. The visitors were finally left 41 runs short of their target.

Tavistock now await the possibility of drawing heavyweight opponents in a competition that has reached its final eight.

This weekend sees the firsts travelling to Hatherleigh on Saturday for a league encounter, while Hatherleigh Seconds will be the guests at the Ring.

Sunday will be the occasion for a friendly home game against a Tamar League eleven.

And on Monday, to round off a promising long weekend's cricket, tourists Edelsborough will be entertained at the Ring in a match sponsored by Hockridge and Stacey.

• An older generation of Tavistock cricket watchers will be saddened to learn of the death of the Rev Philip Bloy, a Canon of Chichester Cathedral. He played for Tavistock in 1950, the same season in which the Rev Basil Guy, Vicar of Tavistock and later Bishop of Gloucester, also played. The present side seems a little short of canons and potential bishops.