IN a rain affected game Sandford Cricket Club comfortably defeated league leaders Tiverton Heathcoat and knocked them off the top spot in the Premier Division.

Asked to bat first the visitors never managed to gain any momentum and were dismissed for only 112.

Jake Griffiths took three for 28 with Jamie Palmer chipping in with three for 31.

There were also two wickets for Andrew Buzza and one apiece for Jack Ford and Jackson Thompson.

With rain in the air the vagaries of the Duckworth Lewis scoring system were never far away with the target being revised on more than one occasion but this never really bothered the Sandford batsmen as the chase was completed with seven wickets in-hand and plenty of spare overs.

Sandy Allen finished undefeated on 42 and skipper Richard Foan was on 22 when the target was achieved.

After a slow start to the season it is good to see a run of fine performances now being put in by the First XI and their success has lifted them to third in the table but only four points behind new leaders North Devon.

A trip to Cornwood beckons this weekend.

The Second XI got back to winning ways against bottom side Upottery but the margin of victory shows how little there is between most sides in the C Division.

The rain stayed away all afternoon but it was a very blustery day.

Sandford chose to bat first but while many got in there was no one who went on to score that big innings.

Having said that Sandford scored 203 for nine with 15 year old James Theedom top scoring with 48.

Acting skipper Peter Steer scored 44, Jon James 24 and Harry Everett 20 before being given bizarrely run out!

Harry and Peter then both took two wickets with one each from Brian Leach, Shaun Fryett and Tyler Morgan-Huggett as the home side finished on a creditable 186 for nine.

The team stay second in the league and now have two home games on the trot either side of halfway through the season.

The Third XI away fixture to Chagford Second XI was called off due to the weather which means that the gap that had been closed on Woodbury the previous week has reopened as they managed to avoid the showers and pick up points for a victory.

Fixtures

Saturday, July 2 - Sandford Second XI v Tiverton Heathcoat Second XI at 1pm.

Saturday, July 2 - Sandford Third XI v Culmstock Second XI (Newton SC). At 1pm.

Sunday, July 3 - Sandford Second XI v Ivybridge Second XI - 20/20 at 1.30pm.

Mike Canning