TIMES have changed! 20 or 30 years ago cricketers would have looked to maybe play on a Saturday and a Sunday and also even get in a 20-over midweek match or a fixture against a touring side.

Now cricket clubs around the country are struggling just to fulfil Saturday fixtures and such a situation hit Sandford last weekend.

Not in the First Eleven, where the same team was selected for the third week running but in the Saturday Second Eleven and Sunday First Eleven.

In the winter there was talk within the club to consider dropping one Sunday side and creating a Third Eleven on a Saturday to meet the demands of all the players.

Last weekend proved that this route needs very serious consideration as Shaun Hawkins had to make about 40 telephone calls even to get a side on the field and then only 10 could be mustered for the Sunday fixture.

It is hoped that all non-availability issues have maybe all come at the same time and that the captains are not going to have further issues for the remainder of the season.

The season on the field has not started well and all three teams last weekend ended up on the losing side.

The First Eleven won the toss and allowed Paignton to bat. There were two wickets apiece for Jamie Palmer and Chris Simpson but some lusty blows late on in the Paignton innings meant they reached a very challenging total of 250 for nine.

Richard Foan (54), Sandy Allen (28) and Adrian Small (21) got Sandford to 91 for one in the run chase but then the wheels came off completely.

For the second week in a row there was a middle order batting collapse but this time there were no heroics from the tail and Sandford were dismissed for a very disappointing 147 with 10 overs of their innings still remaining.

This weekend sees the team travel to Instow to take on North Devon so it is hoped that this poor performance can be put behind them quickly.

Those that represented the Second Eleven on Saturday are to be congratulated on the spirit shown by all.

Clyst Hydon will be one of the favourites for promotion and in ex-Sandford player Ian Sutton they have one of the best batsmen in the league.

Batting first Chris Blake scored a well built 52 but no-one else stayed with him long enough to build the innings.

A last wicket partnership of nearly 50 between Rob Stoyle (43 not out), playing his best innings for the club and Jack Prescott, saw Sandford reach their highest total of the season of 200 for nine.

Although some of his field placings may have been rather over the top Ryan Glass is also to be congratulated on keeping the spirits of the side going in the field when it became obvious at a very early stage that Clyst Hydon were going to stroll to victory.

This they did by eight wickets and with more than 15 overs to spare but Sandford picked up six points rather than a deduction of 10 points had the fixture not been honoured.

Well done to all and hopefully the selection issues will be resolved by the coming weekend.

For the third consecutive First Eleven North Devon League fixture the team lost but picked up maximum losing points and therefore still have an average of 10.00 in the league.

Newton Tracey scored 257 for seven in their 40 overs and there were two wickets each for Chris Jelley, Richard Foan and Archie Osborne.

The Sandford website unfortunately does not show the individual scores but the team fell just four runs short so a good competitive game took place.

With a Bank Holiday weekend approaching there can be no better place to enjoy a pint and watch the cricket than at Creedy Park. This weekend’s offerings are as follows: Saturday, May 25 Second Eleven v Budleigh Salterton Second Eleven, 1.30pm. Monday, May 27 Sunday First Eleven v Westleigh, 1.30pm.

Mike Canning