Walkham Valley vs Wembury Grasshoppers FOLLOWING an enforced break between matches, Walkham Valley returned to the Memorial Field for a match against Wembury Grasshoppers, a team that in past seasons has afforded tight competition. Victory was not guaranteed, but Walkham were hopeful and there were rumours that something had been arranged? in the event that they could secure their fourth consecutive win. Winning the toss, Grasshoppers chose to take advantage of the better conditions, batting first and securing a solid if not spectacular start with the loss of Dellow for 16, caught in the deep by Hills off the bowling of Richard Berry. Gray, coming in at three, was more fleeting in his appearance, and also unlucky, bowled off a thick inside edge from the bowling of Ward. Walkham?s superior left-hand leggy Nick Moule, partnering Ward in a slow six over spell, served up the wicket of the other opener, James, for 17. Next up for Walkham were the father-son combination of Keven and Chris Curry. The former was making matters a bit hot for the Grashopper batsmen who managed to score just a single run from his bowling with the loss of Maltby?s wicket, caught close in by John Berry. Though unsuccessful as far as wickets were concerned, the younger Curry still bowled a tight line, conceding just nine runs from his three overs. As if what had gone before wasn?t enough, Chris Spreadbury chose that moment to deliver his best bowling performance this season. He took two wickets, Lakey and Ashford, the first an absolute pearler of a catch by wicket keeper Roger Smith, the second clean bowled for just four runs. With another two wickets falling to run outs, and Atkins bowled by Hills, Grasshoppers had to rely on Francis for the majority of their remaining runs, finishing not out on 27, to bring their total up to 133 for nine, a respectable though certainly not decisive score off thirty overs. Walkham?s reply opened with Hills and Curry senior, the latter chosen for his big hitting, though on this occasion it also caused his downfall as he was caught by Francis off the bowling of Atkins for just four. Another strokemaker, Chris Spreadbury, came in at three, and though he managed five more than Curry, he too was out quickly, once again caught off Atkins. Ralph was another under-performer, caught by Atkins from Martin for just a single, his demise heralding the in-form Richard Berry. All this time, Hills had been dispatching bad deliveries, hitting two sixes and three fours on his way to a retiring score of thirty not out. Berry did likewise but matching exactly the boundary tally to complete another unbeaten total. Combined, Hills and Berry scored close to half the needed runs and it allowed subsequent batsmen to relax more than usual. Unfortunately, Moule took the hint too literally, failling for just one run, but John Berry and Roger Smith understood well and quietly amassed most of what remained. With the result beyond doubt and perhaps with other appointments to hand, the Red Arrows display team chose this moment to make their entry, flying low over the Memorial Field and on across Dartmoor. Perhaps surprised by the interruption, John Berry fell to an innocuous delivery from Francis to bring in Ward, who partnered Smith almost to the end. The final run, however, came from the bat of the younger Curry, afforded the opportunity by the generous Smith who voluntarily retired on twenty. With six overs to spare, Walkham Valley had secured their fourth consecutive win, retiring to the pub and the prize, a plate of dumpling and beef stew.