Devon C West

WHITCHURCH firsts travelled to Bridestowe on Saturday in one of the most highly anticipated Devon derbies in several seasons with both teams needing a win to move themselves clear of the relegation zone.

In the absence of Gary Sizmur, home captain Mark Butler won the toss and elected to bowl after some morning rain.

Alford and Barriball opened the batting for the away side and Bridestowe’s opening bowler Tom Fogerty got the early wicket of Alford for just four. The pitch was extremely difficult to bat on with the ball popping and zipping around and Bridestowe used the conditions to their advantage picking up Ben Powell and Charlie Barriball for four and one respectively.

Billy Barriball and Bone looked to recover the innings for the away side who were 30-3. The Whitchurch captain eventually fell for 28 with the score now 52-4.

Tim Shaw came on and made an immediate impact, removing the dangerous Charlie Barriball for just 1, caught by Harris. Shaw soon removed Billy Barriball as well, caught by Jopling for a patient 28. The rest of the Whitchurch batsmen chipped in, but Shaw and Jopling were bowling some great deliveries which proved difficult for the tail enders to keep out. Shaw finished his spell with great figures of 9-3-16. Sam Ewen had a tough first over but came back to take a couple more wickets (6-2-20). Jopling (9-3-32) finished off the Whitchurch innings with wickets through some classical leg spin bowling as the away side were dismissed for just 105.

Bridestowe set about chasing down the target quickly through Sam Ewen and Tom Fogerty. The pair batted in their usual flamboyant style, smashing 30 off the first three overs from Billy and Charlie Barriball.

Tom Fogerty and Sam Ewen opened the batting for Bridestowe and looked to get the game done quickly. Fogerty raced to 16 before being bowled by a superb Charlie Barriball away swinging delivery.

James Ewen came in at number three but his stay was short lived after being bowled by Billy Barriball without troubling the scorer.  Whitchurch felt that they had a chance with the hosts 30-2 but Sam Ewen and a composed Ryan Dennis settled any nerves for the hosts and continued to bat aggressively.

Ewen eventually fell to Bone for 35 but with the hosts on 85-3 the game was all but over. Bone got a second when he bowled Mark Fogerty but Dennis finished 21 not out to get his team over the line four wickets down.

That result has meant that Bridestowe leap above Whitchurch and with Plymouth Civil Service and Roborough picking up 20 points they are now level with Whitchurch who are slipping into the relegation zone. With Plymouth Civil Service and Roborough picking up a win, both Bridestowe and Whitchurch need to win at least one of their remaining games to remain in the division.