MUCH has gone on while I’ve had a short family break and therefore there are three weeks of reporting to catch up on.

Pride of place goes to the Third XI who have won all three games and special mention must go to Jack James, who scored his maiden league 50 in the nine wicket victory against Kenn.

Jack had already taken three for 19 as Kenn were dismissed for 148.

Glyn Baker took three for 23 and Jack Perry three for 29.

Jack finished on 51 not out and saw Sandford home by nine wickets with Dan Uren finishing undefeated on 64.

The previous week had seen the Third XI dispatch Cullompton Third XI by four wickets. There were two wickets apiece for Ollie Knight, Harry Collinge and Jemima Vereker as the hosts were restricted to 163 for nine.

Alex Stevens then led the run chase with 64 and continued his fine form by scoring an unbeaten 48.

Exwick were bowled out for 101 with Jemima Vereker returning fine figures of four for seven.

Jack Prescott took two for 11 and with Ellie Bishop scoring an unbeaten 28 the Third XI romped home by nine wickets. A much more difficult task awaits this Saturday with the visit of league leaders Filleigh.

The First XI have had two batting collapses on their travels either side of a great run chase at Creedy Park.

At Sidmouth the writing was on the cards when the score was 75 for eight but some lusty blows from Jamie Palmer in his 25 not out took the total to 124.

Jamie and Jake Griffiths then took two wickets each but Sidmouth managed to regroup and run out five wicket winners.

Chasing 203 at North Devon should not normally present too many issues.

Jackson Thompson had taken four for 24 and there were two wickets apiece for Harry Everett and Tudor Morgan-Everett.

Six batsmen then got into double figures but no-one stayed around long enough and with Sandy Allen top scoring on 19 the side were bowled out for a very disappointing 101.

Playing at home seems to bring better results and this was the case with Bovey Tracey. The visitors were bowled out for 170 with Harrison Jones taking three for 24, Jack Ford three for 35 and Jackson Thompson two for 27.

A seven-wicket victory was secured when Sandy Allen top scored with 67 and he was well supported by Adam Small, 54 not out, and Andrew Buzza 26.

Although there have been two defeats in the last three weeks the First XI still sit second in the table although they have fallen further behind North Devon.

The Second XI have followed a similar path to the First XI with one win out of three. Batting first, against Exmouth, Archie Osborne top scored with 45 not out and James Theedom scored 43 in a total of 216 for nine.

This might have been a winning total if catches had been held but although James Theedom took two wickets there was little else to cheer as Exmouth won by five wickets.

At Sidmouth the hosts scored 367 for five which is nearly always an impossible target to chase down. In the chase the Second XI finished on a creditable 260 for nine with Tom Williams scoring 90, Archie Osborne 77 and, following his two wickets, there was also an unbeaten 22 from Shaun Fryett!

It was a high scoring game when Alphington came to visit.

Asked to bat first they scored 262 for four with Chris Jelley taking two for 60.

Sandford were always ahead in the run chase and got home by four wickets with 15 balls to spare. Jon James top scored with 83 and was well supported by 51 from Rickie Hopwood and 45 from Shaun Hawkins.

The First XI took part in Finals Day of the County 20/20 competition. In the semi-final they defeated Plymouth by 46 runs but lost by six wickets to Bradninch in the final.

A chance for revenge this weekend as Bradninch are the visitors to Creedy Park on Saturday. In the quarter final of the Corinthian Cup the Second XI defeated Teignmouth First XI by three wickets and will now head to Ivybridge for Finals Day.

Mike Canning