Tavistock Cricket Club second eleven, having got their season off to a winning start last week, approached their first home fixture, against Kingsbridge, with some confidence.

Batting first, they found runs difficult to come by on a slow wicket, and were all out for 125 in the 42nd over.

The tea-time wisdom in and around the pavilion was that the failure to use the full allocation of 46 overs could prove crucial in a low-scoring match.

Kingsbridge paced their reply sensibly, and seemed to be well in sight of victory when a clatter of middle order wickets pulled them back, John Rich and Mike Crocker helping themselves to three each.

In a tight and tense finish the visitors finally got home by two wickets.

Tavistock's man of the match was Maurice Craze, who followed up a top-scoring middle-order innings of 37 with a performance behind the wicket that brought him four catches and a stumping.

Players and supporters of the club will have to wait a little longer for a change of luck and form in the first eleven's league campaign.

The long trip to Axminster resulted in a last-over defeat in a low-scoring match. In the visitors' total of 141 for 9 Steve Luffman top-scored with 34, while significant support came from Andy Gauler, Tshepo Legodi and, at the death, Steve Bray and Steve Johns.

The home team reached their target in the final over for the loss of 6 wickets. The wicket-taking bowlers were Adam Bridgwater with a haul of 4 for 46 and Steve Bray whose off spinners make such a welcome addition to the variety of the Tavistock attack.

The first opportunity to restore dampened spirits came, for the first team, within 24 hours of the defeat at Axminster. The trip to Clyst St George on Sunday was an attempt to secure a place in the second round of the Devon Senior Cup.

The home team posted a modest 149 for 9, the wickets being shared between seven Tavistock bowlers.

The fall of three early wickets in the Tavistock reply set the alarm bells ringing, and it was left to the middle order to steady the ship. A 40 from Andy Rich, a 30 from Tshepo Legodi, and a 36 not out from skipper Steve Luffman saw the visitors home by 5 wickets.

It was an important morale-boosting victory, which could well be seen to have been a turning-point in the club's fortunes.

This weekend offers a replay of last week's cup tie, with Clyst St George the visitors to The Ring on Saturday. The match starts at 2pm and is sponsored by Hollinshead and Co Solicitors.

A quirk of the fixtures arrangements brings the second elevens of the two clubs together on the same afternoon. The hope on all sides must be for a long dry spell and quicker wickets.