SANDFORD Cricket Club enjoyed a glorious weekend as the three sides who played all won totalling a massive 955 runs between them for the loss of only 17 wickets with their opponents being bowled out each game for a total of only 389 runs.

Pride of place must go to the Saturday First Eleven who thumped their nearest rivals Hatherleigh to avenge a defeat earlier in the season. Put in to bat Sandford totalled 287 for seven with skipper Richard Foan scoring his third 100 of the season.

Richard has now scored almost 850 runs in the league and with three games to go who would bet against him scoring the illusive 1,000?!

There were useful contributions from Matt Theedom (41), Neil Bettiss (37) and Charlie Fitzroy (30). With Jamie Palmer still out injured Grant Ward has stepped up to open the bowling attack and produced a dazzling display to leave the hosts reeling at 20 for four.

They never recovered and Grant finished with figures of four for 19.

Premier League Cricket IS coming back to Sandford next season. It is not now a matter of IF but WHEN this will be confirmed as with three games to go and 60 points up for grabs Sandford are now 28 points ahead of Hatherleigh in second place and a massive 52 points ahead of Budleigh in third place.

If results go their way it could all happen this weekend when Sandford play host to Plympton, the only other side they have lost to this season, while Hatherleigh have a tricky away fixture to Chudleigh.

SECOND ELEVEN

The Second Eleven did a demolition job on Ottery St Mary. Jim Shepherd was run out for 99 going for the single to give him his 100.

Skipper Rory Miller finished undefeated on 50 and Tom Gidney (49) and Ashley Baker (48) along with 63 extras meant that Sandford posted a total of 340 for five.

The weakness of the opposition was then shown as they were bowled out for only 80 just over half-way through their allotted number of overs.

Jem Fawcett was the pick of the bowlers with a return of four for 16. The win has moved Sandford up to fourth position but with only nine points separating second position to sixth it really looks as though Sandford have to win two of their last three fixtures to stay in fourth place.

This week sees them make the short visit to Knightshayes to take on Tiverton Heathcoat.

SUNDAY FIRST ELEVEN

The Sunday First Eleven made it a perfect weekend with a 175 run trouncing of Filleigh in the North Devon League.

Having missed out on Saturday, Shaun Hawkins scored 96 and followed this up by taking four for eight in the Filleigh innings.

There were also useful contributions made by Tom Gidney (46), Adrian Small (46 no), Ryan Glass (44), Pete Steer (38) and Ben Clement (27 no) as Sandford finished on 328 for five.

Filleigh were bowled out for 153 with Richard Foan and Jim Shepherd taking two wickets each.

It was great to see such fantastic travelling support for the First Eleven at Hatherleigh last weekend and it would be good to see another large crowd this Saturday at Creedy Park to see the team push for that promotion spot against Plympton.

On Sunday the Sandford First Eleven host North Devon so why not make that visit and watch some cricket.

Mike Canning