I AM beginning to despair over the Devon Cricket League’s rulebook where it penalises a club for falsely playing a 14-year-old who is registered with another club more than a club who had a player abuse an umpire and where it does not allow any movement of players from one club to another after the June 30 deadline but will allow cash rich clubs to bring in professional cricketers to help them fight off relegation.

Some will disagree with my personal opinion but just when Sandford needed the luck to go their way in a must-win situation they came up against Tim Groenewald from the Somerset County Championship side who had been signed up by North Devon three days earlier.

This has not been a lucky season for Sandford as they have come up against Somerset players Ben Green and Tom Lammonby when playing Exeter although many other sides avoid them due to their professional commitments.

Tom has won the game twice for Exeter against Sandford by scoring 100 in both games and on one occasion taking five wickets.

At least these two players have been signed on all season and it is the luck of the draw as to their availability.

Not so for North Devon and Tim Groenewald who turned up took two for 43, held two catches, caused a run out and then scored a match winning undefeated 106.

Maybe Sandford were 20 or 30 runs short of a really good total and obviously one good ball could have changed the outcome of the match but this still doesn’t gloss over the failings of the League rules.

Harrison Jones had made a fine 111 with Neil Bettiss scoring 58 in Sandford’s total of 260 for seven and with North Devon at 122 for six hope was high only to be shattered and a three-wicket defeat the outcome.

Following the previous week when Sandford failed to chase down Paignton’s modest total of 200 the First Eleven are definitely in a scrap to avoid relegation.

Both Torquay and Bovey Tracey lost this past weekend so the position hasn’t really changed. Next week’s home game to Bovey Tracey is massive and although nothing will be resolved for definite it will give a clear indication of whether survival this season is realistic.

This weekend the Second Eleven take on leaders Clyst St George in the top of the table clash. Since defeat by the long-time leaders Sandford have won eight of their last nine league fixtures and now sit second in the table with the definite possibility of promotion.

Should they win tomorrow then winning the league even becomes a possibility.

The biggest talking point in the club is availability and it is at this time of the season that the strength in depth of cricketers is shown at its best.

Maybe it is wrong to single out one individual but the re-emergence of Matt Theedom with a renewed vigour not seen from him for a season or two has been paramount to the success of the Second Eleven.

Against Clyst Hydon Sandford scored 280 with Matt top scoring on 93 and he was ably assisted with some lusty blows from Adam Creasey (50) and backed up by 36 from Chris Blake and 25 from Adam Small.

Harvey Blake then took four for 54 and Adam Creasey three for 35 as Sandford squeezed home by 22 runs.

Last weekend saw the Seconds go to rock bottom Budleigh Salterton and demolish them by 174 runs. Again Matt led from the front scoring 68 not out but was so well-supported by Chris Jelley (58), Tom Williams (42), Adam Small (31) and Brian Leach 25 not out.

Chris Jelley then took four for 10 and Alex Stephens three for 26 as the hosts were bowled out in under 30 overs.

If the side continues with the positive style of cricket over the next five weeks then the possibility of C Division cricket becomes a distinct possibility.

Fixtures this this weekend: Tomorrow, Saturday, August 3, First Eleven v Bovey Tracey 12.30pm start; Sunday, August 4, First Eleven v Belstone 1.30pm start.

Mike Canning