SANDFORD Cricket Club will be hosting a one-day game between Devon County Cricket Club and Cornwall on Sunday, August 16.

Devon’s National Counties and Cup Competitions have been cancelled this season because of the Coronavirus outbreak so this is a great opportunity to see two outstanding county sides playing at your local ground.

Over the years Sandford has been recognised by umpires and officials as one of the best playing surfaces in the county and this is due recognition for everyone’s hard work.

The start of play will be 11am with 50 overs for each side. Entrance for spectators will be free but there will be a small charge for cars.

Please note that because of the Coronavirus restrictions there will not be the usual barbecue or coffee outlets running but the “Bill Matten Pavilion” will be open as Sandford Cricket Club is fully compliant with the Coronavirus legislation and social distancing guidelines are in place for players, officials and all spectators. Sandford Cricket Club would like to thank ATS Crediton Ltd for its kind sponsorship of the game.

In late July a little bit of history was added to the Sandford Cricket Club archive when three generations of the Theedom family all played in the same game.

“Grumpy”, sorry, Grampy Chris Theedom joined son Matt and grandson James for a friendly fixture against Bideford.

For over 20 years Chris has been a stalwart of the Devon Seniors Cricket Club and he captained the over 50’s team to win the National Championship in 2002.

He still plays for the over 70’s and I am sure will be looking to start an over 80’s tournament when the time is right! Matt’s working life revolves around cricket but his playing career involved many appearances for the full Devon side and a season or two with Somerset Second XI.

He runs the Quick Cricket set up which last season saw up to 120 children enjoying cricket on a Friday evening and many adults enjoying the delights of the “Bill Matten Pavilion”.

James is just setting out on his cricket journey but is already attracting the eyes of his age group cricket coaching staff so could well be following in the steps of his “pop” and “grandpop” in his love of cricket.

But it is not just the playing that highlights the contribution made to Sandford Cricket Club by the Theedom family but also all the hours and hours of additional work they put in on the ground and behind the scenes that keep the club going in the way it does.

I know I haven’t done much singing due to the current Covid restrictions but I’m sure there’s a song called “What a difference a week makes!”

Last week saw the club gain three wins but this week this was turned into three defeats.

Rob Holman once again proved to be the thorn in the side for Foanie’s Firsts against Tiverton Heathcoat. He was the only batsman from either side who scored more than 50 runs and as Heathcoat won by 36 runs this was probably the difference.

There were two wickets apiece for Chris Simpson and Tudor Morgan-Huggett and a top score of 41 from Adam Small but this was one of those games that got away. All is not lost in the mini league if Sandford can win the return fixture to be played at Creedy Park in two weeks time.

The same situation faces Shaun’s Second XI. The team sheet looked like the side was a little light in the batting department but this was certainly a game against Exeter Second XI that should have been won. The fielding in the first 10 overs was extremely disappointing and runs were gifted to the opposition that proved so costly in the end. There were two wickets for Neil Maud, Greg Lewis and Ben Clement who after dropping an easy chance the previous week then followed this up this week with an absolute blinder.

To bowl Exeter out for 138 was a creditable achievement although this should have been 20 runs less and this proved to be the case. Maybe there were a couple of questionable decisions that went against the side but no-one stuck around to make that innings that would get Sandford over the winning line.

Right from the start it seemed as though the plan was to try to win in the fewest overs by hitting as many big shots as possible. This strategy didn’t work and despite by Shaun Hawkins and by Ben Clement, Sandford fell 11 runs short with still a possible 12 overs left to play and an early finish! An away trip to Clyst St George is next weekend’s fixture.

Theed’s Thirds also tasted defeat for the first time. Playing at Newton St Cyres against Exwick Second XI Rob Stoyle continued his good form by top scoring with 68. There were also contributions of 39 from Pete Whitby and 29 from James Theedom.

The young bowling attack persevered in the sweltering heat but the more experienced Exwick side got home by seven wickets. There was a wicket apiece for Jemima Vereker and Jack James. Next week Theed’s Thirds will be travelling for the reverse fixture against Cullompton.

There have also been friendly fixtures played against Exeter in a 20/20 evening fixture, Ashburton on the Sunday afternoon and a Tuesday afternoon against a side touring the area so there is still plenty of cricket taking place at Creedy Park in this shortened season. The ladies team are also taking part in a mini league that sees them play two fixtures most Sundays.

This weekend, if the weather is set fair, then the highest standard of cricket can be seen at Creedy Park on both Saturday and Sunday as the First XI are followed on the Saturday by the full County side playing on the Sunday. It would be good to see a lot of you enjoying a visit to Creedy.

Fixtures this weekend:

Saturday, August 15 - First XI v North Devon - 12.30pm start.

Sunday, August 16 - Devon v Cornwall - 11am start.

Michael Canning