SANDFORD Community Cricket League continues to gain momentum, despite a few games, three so far this year, having been cancelled because of the rain.

Since my last report, Sandford Football Club has had two wins over Graphic and Sandford Parents and Colts.

This followed on from their thrashing in their first outing by the Three Little Pigs when, to be fair, they did have quite a few of their “stars” unavailable.

When they returned to full strength they subsequently easily beat Graphic chasing 101 for victory, and won by only losing three wickets.

Against the Parents and Colts they racked up a massive 157, although they lost eight wickets in the course of doing so, but then restricted the Parents to 119 for four in their allotted 16 overs.

However, one plus for the Football Club is that captain, Adam Voisey, has broken a finger, whilst practicing in the nets incidentally, and the rest of the team are hoping he’ll still be out of action when they are due to play their final game in a few weeks’ time.

He is yet to score a run in this year’s competition, and is as much use to them as a chocolate fireguard.

Their most recent game against the Rugby Club was called off due to the rain.

The Pigs are also undefeated so far this season after their initial win over the Football Club, and a further win over Graphic.

In that latest victory they didn’t lose a wicket in chasing down 103, and in doing so had three batters who, having reached the 25 run limit, had to retire.

The entertainment value from the Pigs is still as high as ever, although they too suffered when their latest game against the Crediton Inn was called off due to the weather.

However, with games against the Parents and Colts - the “whipping boys” in the league, and the Rugby Club - the bookmakers potential favourites - the Pigs - will still have high hopes of making this year’s final, and if they should win it, become the eighth winners in eight years.

Graphic, last year’s champions, have had a tough start, with two of their games falling foul to the inclement weather, as well as losing the other two games they have played so far, which were against the Pigs and the Football Club.

So it therefore seems highly unlikely that they will qualify for this year’s final, especially as they still have the Rugby Club to play, as well as the Parents and Colts.

Crediton Inn registered their first win of the season in their first game they actually played, when they annihilated the Parents and Colts.

Chasing 111 to win they only lost one wicket and had two retirees, with quite a few overs to spare.

Unfortunately for them they have had two games cancelled because of the weather. However, they’re still in with a fighting chance of making the final, as they have the Rugby Club and Football Club still to play.

The Rugby Club’s most recent game against the Football Club was called off due to the weather, but having only actually played one game so far, which they won, they have a busy few weeks to come.

These games should at least boost the bar profits, if not their points total. But as I said previously, they are the “Bookies” favourites, especially if Mike Grigg can remain fit.

The Parents and Colts are struggling again this season. They’ve never really got their act together since the very first year of the competition, when they were the inaugural winners.

So far they have played three, lost three, and with the Pigs, who are flying, and the Crediton Inn to come, it’s difficult to see where they’ll pick up their first victory.

So with things being tight at the top of the league, run rate could be the deciding option.

Forthcoming games see Rugby Club v Graphic by the time this article is read, and then Rugby Club v Crediton Inn on Wednesday, July 3 and Pigs v Parents and Colts on July 10.

There is then a two-week break to allow the groundsman time to prepare the pitch for the Devon game on Sunday, July 21, before the final three games at the end of July. The final is due to be played on Friday, August 9.

Results so far: Sandford Football Club pld 4, pts 5; Three Little Pigs pld 4, pts 5; Crediton Inn pld 3, pts 4; Crediton Rugby Club pld 2, pts 3; Graphic pld 3, pts 1; Sandford Parents and Colts pld 3; pts 0.

One club fixture for tomorrow, Saturday, June 29: First Eleven v Exmouth, 12.30pm start.

Phil Matten