FOLLOWING completion of round three of this year's Sandford Cricket Club's Community League competition, the winners for the past two years, the Three Little Pigs, continue to look firm favourites again in 2025, as they remain unbeaten.

In their latest match, they nervously beat Sandford Football Club, who were also unbeaten going into this match, by only 10 runs.

Batting first, the Pigs amassed 152 for 6 in their 20 overs with Alex Stevens (28), Bailey Carbines (28) and skipper Josh Davey (25) all having to retire once they had scored 25. Alex Buckingham with two wickets was the only football club bowler to cause any discomfort.

In reply, the football club looked on course for an upset as Shaun Hawkins (27) and 'Big Bad' Brad Elliott (25) put their team on course for victory. But following their compulsory retirements, the Pigs all-round bowling strength shone through, with Dan Yendell, Lee Waring and Jack James all taking 2 wickets apiece to stem the football club tide, who were eventually restricted to 142 for 7.

Crediton Milling are currently in second place, as they too remain unbeaten. However they only have five points, as their match against the rugby club was cancelled in round two due to the weather.

In their latest match, they played the Sandford Development XI, and after wracking up 161 all out in their 20 overs, they restricted the Development XI to 138 for 4.

For the mill, Stu Moss was their hero. Having retired at 25 early in the mill innings, he was allowed back in to bat when the rest of the team came and went.

He went on to score 45, well supported by young Harry Hall who held up the other end to finish on an important four not out in a last wicket stand of 33. Phil Morgan with three wickets and Zak Blewett with two were the star bowlers for the Development XI.

In reply, Zak was at it again with the bat, cracking 27 before retiring, followed by Adrian Partridge (28) and Jerome Davis (25), but in the end the Development XI fell 23 runs short, restricted by the mill bowling with Euan Phillips claiming two wickets.

The other game in this round saw Crediton Rugby Club smash their way to 188 for four (a competition record) against Graphic.

Skipper Simon Saunders (26) led the way, well supported by Joe Willcocks (25) and Joe Saunders also 25. However Graphic bowling was their downfall as the conceded 56 runs in either wides or no balls. Ironically the four wickets they did claim were shared between skipper Sam Dyne and Lewis Copp with two each.

The Graphic response was better than in previous matches however, with Alex Sharp (34), Ben Trenaman (26) and Jack Hookway (25) doing their best to get near the Rugby Club total. However, in the end the innings flittered its way to 159 for seven when their time ran out, and in doing so suffer a 29-run defeat. Simon Grainger surprisingly grabbed a couple of wickets as did John Leyman.

So, the table reads Three Little Pigs six points, Crediton Milling five, Sandford Football Club four, Crediton Rugby Club three, and the Sandford Development XI and Graphic both without any points.

With one round to go before finals day on Sunday, July 20, the big match in round four will be between Sandford Football Club and Crediton Milling on Wednesday, June 25.

Phil Matten