SO, the end of the Devon League cricket season has been reached and the objectives of both sides were realised.

I would like to congratulate the First Eleven on maintaining their status in the Premier League after another brilliant performance in the last fixture.

I would also like to congratulate the Second Eleven for gaining promotion to the C Division even though they lost on the last ball of their last fixture to one of their nearest challengers.

I would also like to congratulate, tongue firmly in cheek, North Devon Cricket Club for wasting so much money in employing a professional cricketer to make our chances of survival that much more difficult but at the same time doing nothing to enhance their chances of avoiding the drop and I hope they enjoy cricket in the A Division next season!

The First Eleven travelled to Exmouth last weekend and had secured their survival by tea time.

Richard Foan had no hesitation in asking the hosts to bat so he could try to get the necessary five bonus points by bowling them out and this they did.

Jamie Palmer and Harrison Jones both took three for 23, and there was two wickets for Chris Simpson and one apiece for Trevor Anning and Chris Jelley as Exmouth were bowled out for 131.

There was a nice gesture made to opposition batsman David Lye who had announced his retirement after playing cricket for either Exmouth or Sandford for his career as the players formed a guard of honour for him to take his place at the wicket. Two balls later though he was back in the pavilion!

With Ryan Glass unavailable ,skipper Richard Foan opened the innings and obviously felt it was important to get back to Creedy Park as soon as possible to support the Second Eleven and to get the end-of-season celebrations started.

He top scored with 79 off only 53 balls and with Adam Small batting patiently for 20 the runs were knocked off after 21 overs.

As with last year the First Eleven has finished the season strongly winning three of the final five fixtures and hopefully can build on this for a smoother season in 2020.

Having got itself into a very strong position for promotion the Second Eleven did find it extremely hard to cross the winning line.

Losing three out of the last five games is not really promotion form but the bonus points earned in the final game against Sampford Peverell and Tiverton were enough for the success.

Put in to bat Shaun Hawkins once again led from the front with 67 and shared a third wicket partnership of 76 with Pete Steer.

Once Pete was out for 38 with the score being 127 for three the rest of the side never kicked on to take the total past 200 and at tea Sandford had totalled 185 for nine.

Not losing the last wicket meant that Sandford needed to take six of the visitors wickets to secure promotion.

This was duly achieved when Ben Clement bowled the opposition wicketkeeper and the celebrations could start. Ben finished with figures of four for 40 but Pete Steer’s spell of two for six off six overs always made the chase difficult.

The fixture was lost when four was needed off the last ball and this was achieved but by then both sides knew the outcome for the following season.

After both these fixtures an end-of-season celebration was held in the Clubhouse and in next week’s issue I will announce the winners of those awards.

There are four Sunday Second Eleven fixtures to be played at Creedy Park over the next two weekends and then I will report on the North Devon League season for both sides.

All games start at 1.30pm so if the sun is shining go to Creedy Park and enjoy the late September afternoons.

Mike Canning