WE are now at the midway stage of the season and it is therefore appropriate to give a half-term report on Sandford's two Saturday teams. Currently the First Eleven lie second in the A Division but have shown themself to be quite unpredictable.

Linton Terblanche is proving to be an excellent addition to the team and there have been some excellent results.

The losses have come when the team has shown the aggressive spirit of last year which led to the side being relegated.

Fortunately, the better times have outnumbered the poorer times but if Sandford harbour any intentions of returning to the Premier League, then more grit and determination will need to be shown in ALL games.

Only seven points separate the sides who lie second to fifth in the table. The Second Eleven have turned their season round after the disappointment of not being able to raise a side four games ago.

These past four games have all been won and the side sits comfortably in mid table.

Had the 10 points not been deducted for that match, then actually Sandford would be riding high in fourth!

The same spirit needs to be shown in the second half of the season and another year of Premier cricket should be assured.

One area that certainly needs addressing is the massive number of wides being bowled, which both adds to the opponents' total and extra time in the field!

One problem facing Richard Coupe, chairman of selectors, will be how to get the players who have got Sandford to this position a game of cricket as school and university students return and seem almost certain to be selected at the expense of some who have been available to this point.

The First Eleven showed the frailty of their season most effectively in the past two weeks. I was unable to supply a report last week, as details of the thrashing handed out by Brixham were not put on the club's website until much later in the week.

Suffice to say it sounds as though Sandford didn't bat well, bowl well or field well and were soundly beaten by Brixham by nine wickets.

At the same time they managed to reach neither target for a bonus point and left totally empty handed.

This last week, back on home territory, the team scored over 300 runs against lowly Plymstock and although not bowling the opposition out, did enough to get the season back on track and win by 60 runs.

Many of the batsmen contributed on a friendly wicket which the bowlers then found difficult to get wickets.

I suggested that the Second Eleven should take heart from the fact that the Sunday Eleven were unable to fulfil a fixture and then bounced back, winning the next four games and this is exactly what has happened!

First North Devon were dispatched by six wickets in a rain affected game. This is the first time that the new rules on Saturday were called into effect and it turned out to Sandford's advantage.

Always up with the clock, the rain break meant the target was reduced and then a good stand between Brian Leach and returning skipper Paul Smith saw Sandford home safely.

Cornwood were then dispatched by five wickets meaning that Sandford had successfully beaten all the teams at the lower end of the table.

In a low scoring game the hosts won the toss, elected to bat and were then bowled out for 103.

Although losing early wickets Sandford still chased down the total and won with almost 25 overs to spare!

The Sunday First Eleven yet again lost to Bideford. Sandford did amass a total of 182 but were bowled out with almost 10 overs of their innings remaining!

Russell Discombe maintained his current fine form and managed to add 54 for the last wicket with Daniel Priddle.

Another three wickets for Linton Terblanche was not enough, as the hosts romped home with over five overs and four wickets to spare.

This week the Sunday First Eleven handed out a five wicket mauling to Newton Tracey.

Set 257 to win, Sandford raced home with nine overs to spare.

Linton Terblanche scored his second century of the season and has already scored nearly 700 runs for the club.

Will he reach that milestone of one thousand runs in a season? I don't think many will bet against it!

There were three wickets for Shaun Hawkins and two apiece for Pete Steer and Ryan Glass.

RESULTS

Sandford First Eleven lost to Brixham by nine wickets:

Sandford 102 all out: Linton Terblanche 22.

Brixham 103 for 1.

Sandford First Eleven beat Plymstock by 60 runs:

Sandford 305 for 8: Russell Discombe 86, Linton Terblanche 50, Shaun Hawkins 49, Richard Tucker 39.

Plymstock 245 for 6: Matt Theedom 2 - 40.

Sandford Second Eleven beat North Devon by six wickets in a rain affected game:

North Devon 185 all out: Shaun Fryett 2 – 26, Steve Morish 2 – 26, Gary Abdoll 2 - 37.

Sandford 147 for 4: Brian Leach 46 no, Paul Smith 27 no, Shaun Hawkins 2 – 27.

Sandford Second Eleven beat Cornwood by five wickets:

Cornwood 103 all out: Luke Wright 4 – 13, Shaun Fryett 3 – 16, Brian Leach 2 – 25.

Sandford 106 for 5: Steve Morish 40 no, Brian Leach 24, Nigel Ashplant 20.

Sunday First Eleven lost to Bideford by four wickets:

Sandford 182 all out: Russell Discombe 86, Shaun Hawkins 26.

Bideford 184 for 6: Linton Terblanche 3 – 31, Steve Morish 2 - 26.

Sunday First Eleven beat Newton Tracey by five wickets:

Newton Tracey 256 all out: Shaun Hawkins 3 – 55, Pete Steer 2 – 51, Ryan Glass 2 – 63.

Sandford 259 for 5: Linton Terblanche 104, Ryan Glass 70, Russell Discombe 37.

MC