WILL the Shobrooke Park Cricket Club's first side avoid relegation? They have given themselves a chance to do so for, after an otherwise pretty drab and grey season, they discovered a patch of blue last Saturday.

They had stumbled to a six wicket defeat against Brixham the week before when, although their batting fired, their bowling lacked penetration and their opponents prospered to knock off the 213 runs for victory for the loss of just four wickets.

It was different on the 13th, however. Batting first against fellow strugglers, Alphington, they were well served by Dollow who hit a vital 73. His knock, with that of Stockden, who chipped in with 20, enabled them to reach 205, thus giving themselves a chance.

All was not done and dusted however. Several visiting batsmen got starts with Barnes scoring 31 and Ainscough and Bath 22 apiece.

Dare with three for 33, Turner (three for 47) and Steer (two for 17) kept chipping away, however, and the visitors reply fell away to 194 all out leaving Shobrooke winners by 11 runs.

With just three games left, the relegation struggle is between three sides. Bottom side, Barton, have 103 points, Shobrooke 112 and Alphington 116.

Shobrooke Seconds, too, have found a strand of form, although in their case I fear it has come too late. Having narrowly failed to overturn Brixham on the seventh, losing by just two wickets, they came good seven days later to grab 20 points against Alphington.

Their opponents took first use and were put out for just 108, with David Jolliffe (four for 40) and Peter Rose (four for 15) doing the damage.

Shobrooke's reply went very much as they would have wished. Blakeney with an unbeaten 38, sheet-anchored their response and his knock, together with Jolliffe's 24, saw them to an eight wicket win.

They remain in bottom place however, some 50 points from safety, with three games left! KJ