IT seems incredible that the Sandford Cricket Club Community League is almost over, with only a handful of games remaining before the Grand Final on Friday, August 4.

Going into July, there are three teams in contention to claim the honours this year.

They are Crediton Rugby Club who are undefeated after three of their five games.

Three Little Pigs, who have made a welcomed return to the competition this season after a two-year sabbatical and have won the two games they have played, but had to share the points in their other game, due to the game being called off because of the weather.

Finally the Crediton Inn, who have won one, lost one, had one game cancelled because of the weather, and another cancelled because the opposition couldn’t raise a side.

By the time this report has been published The Three Little Pigs and Crediton Rugby Club will have played, and if the Rugby Club win they will automatically progress to the final.

If they lose, it will make life very interesting, as they only have Graphic to play, and with all due respect to Graphic, based on historical fact, if Graphic win, this is likely to cause the biggest upset in Community League cricket history throughout the Country, let alone Sandford. But stranger things have happened!

However, Three Little Pigs will still have to meet Crediton Inn in their final “round-robin” league game on Wednesday, July 12, in what is likely to be a “must win” game for both teams.

So all-in-all it’s an “edge of your seats” final couple of weeks in the regular season.

As I said earlier, the Grand Final will be on Friday, August 4 at Sandford’s Creedy Park ground with the finalists battling it out for the Barrie Sparham OBE Memorial Trophy, kindly sponsored by Barrie’s widow Sue.

As with all Community League games it will be a 6.15pm start played over 16 overs per side, but with the addition of a barbecue during the evening and presentation of the trophy to the winning captain by Sue Sparham after the game.

Please feel free to come along for what should be an entertaining evening, no matter which teams reach the final.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all six participating teams for entering this competition this year. Apart from the four teams already mentioned, the others were Sandford Football Club and Sandford Parents and Colts, a representative team from the Cricket Club itself.

I would also like to thank all of the Club members who have taken on the officiating duties of either umpiring or scoring or running the bar, and for Nicky Radnor who has provided the catering after each game.

A final report will appear in a few weeks time once the final has been played.

Phil Matten