SANDFORD Cricket Club’s Community League program for 2026 came to an exciting final last Sunday when Crediton Rugby Club beat the champions for the past three years, the Three little Pigs, by just six runs.
Batting first the rugby club recovered from an injudicious start to eventually knock up a score of 163 for eight from their 20 overs.
This was mainly due thanks to opener Joe Willcocks 27no, Elliott Butterfield 27, skipper Simon Saunders 28 and a late unexpected 23 from Barny “Sandford Orchards” Butterfield.
Bailey Carbines took a couple of early wickets for the Pigs, but the rugby club did well with the lower order digging them out of potential trouble to post a defendable total.
The Pigs batting never really got going like it normally does with only Jack James having to retire before Rob Smith making a guest appearance also had to retire. It was then down to Bailey Carbines to show his all-round skills with a solid 26 before also having to retire.
As the rest of the order had come and gone, this meant Jack James and Rob Smith could return, and they nearly took full advantage with Jack finishing unbeaten on 39, and Rob on 38no, but their efforts just fell short against some good late bowling by the rugby club.
Ollie Harris managed to take a couple of early wickets to keep the Pigs in check, and with 35 needed from the last three overs, Elliott Butterfield bowled two tight overs, and skipper Simon Saunders bowled well enough to help win the game for their team by six runs.
Congratulations to the rugby club, and commiserations to the Pigs, but what a final – the best ever in the 14 years the competition has taken place.
Sue Sparham presented the winners with the Barrie Sparham OBE Memorial Trophy in memory of her late husband, and thankyou to her for sponsoring the competition once again.
Earlier in the day the final round of round-robin matches took place, with the Pigs beating Crediton Milling in the first game of the day, to book their place in the final, easily overpowering the Mill’s 116 all out in only 16.1 overs by three wickets.
In the second game the rugby club thrashed Graphic by 70 runs. Batting first rugby club rattled up 166 for no wickets down, with all their first five batters having to retire once they reached 25 – the first time this had happened in the competition since it began, and then bowling Graphic out for 96 in only 13.3 overs.
The surprise of the day though occurred in the third match, when the Sandford Development XI beat Sandford Football Club by seven wickets with 2.2 overs remaining.
The football club were bowled out for 131 in their final over with youngsters Will Matten, Joe Stevenson and Tom Harding all grabbing two wickets apiece, despite Steve Lyons smacking 44 and Tudor Morgan-Huggett a respectable 29no.
The Development XI’s reply got off to a good start with 14-year-old Buddy Singleton creaming 25 in double quick time, followed by Zak Blewett with 26 before he had to retire, and the winning runs being scored by Will Matten who also finished on 25no. A great win for the Development XI who should be a force to be reckoned with next year when they will all be a year older.
Finally, for this year, many thanks to all the teams who took part, along with thanks to all the umpires and scorers for their participation in helping to run the competition successfully, together with bar staff, and my wife Pam for preparing the after-match pasties, which had been duly supplied at a discounted price by Morrisons. Also on the day to Scott Singleton and his mate Reece Lippolis who did the first shift on the BBQ, and to Andy Pennington for finishing it off.
Thanks to the weather for no cancellations and we can now look forward to another competition in 2027.
Phil Matten
Comments
This article has no comments yet. Be the first to leave a comment.