Devon E Bridestowe v Kentisbeare BRIDESTOWE welcomed promotion rivals Kentisbeare to the Millaton ground, in a crucial first and second match. Kentisbeare won the toss and opted to bowl first on a dry pitch. Bridestowe got off to a slow start and the pressure eventually told as captain Sam Ewen was bowled by Chave for two. Phil Hatton and Phil Woods continued to defend carefully until consecutive full tosses were dipatched to the cover boundary by Woods. After 12 overs Bridestowe were at 42-1. The batsmen attacked the new bowler Lothian but at the other end Farley (9-10-2) proved harder to get away. At the halfway stage, the solid partnership had moved the score on to 82-1. Hatton (19) was out, caught at long off as he tried to clear the boundary. Tom Fogerty was soon off the mark with a late cut for four. Woods was now looking comfortable and got to 50 with a quick single into the off-side. A collapse then followed as Farley removed Fogerty caught, then off-spinner Howe had Jack Hatton caught and bowled and James Ewen was run out from a great direct hit. New man Jopling took the score past 100 along with Woods thanks to some well placed boundaries. Cook then removed Jopling stumped leaving Bridestowe at 129-6 with nine overs remaining. Woods was caught off Cook (7-35-2) attempting a straight six for an excellent 76. Dan Fogerty and Mark Fogerty (17no) ran very well between the wickets and put away the bad balls to take the score above 150. Chave did for Dan, who was caught at cover. Jutson took the crease with three overs to go, but after picking up a couple of singles, he was run out at the non striker's end. A superb pull stroke from Boother took Bridestowe to a competitive 172-9 from their 45 overs. Tom and Dan Fogerty opened the bowling and began well with Gillett and Sprague playing cautiously in the first few overs. Gillett then struck both bowlers back over their heads for boundaries. After consecutive maidens Tom had the breakthrough, as Gillett (20) edged behind and was caught by Mark Fogerty. Chappell was off the mark with a big six over mid-on and after 18 overs he and Sprague had taken the score onto 77-1. Bridestowe came back as Chappell (25) dragged a full ball from Boother back onto his stumps. Boother (6-21-2) soon had a second wicket as Thomas struck the ball hard into the off-side, only for Sam to take a great catch moving across from extra cover. With Kentisbeare at 105-4 opener Sprague and new bat Reed looked to take the game away from Bridestowe by attacking the bowlers to find the boundary. Jopling (3-15-1) got the breakthrough bowling Reed followed by Jack Hatton bowling Howe all ends up. The big hitting Chave joined Sprague with the game once again in the balance. Jack Hatton swung the game back towards the hosts as he removed the settled Sprague lbw for 45. A few balls later Dan Fogerty bowled Farley to reduce Kentisbeare to 132-7. Lothian and Chave took Kentisbeare past the 150 mark. before Hatton (7-13-3) took out Lothian's middle stump to make it 157-8, with 16 runs needed from 8 overs. Tom Fogerty (6.2-12-3) bowled Chave's (28) and the next delivery another great ball bowled Martin to win the game for Bridestowe! The crucial win increased Bridestowe's lead at the top of the table to 15 points before this week's match away at Kingskerswell. 

Bridestowe v Kenn THE week before Bridestowe match skipper Sam Ewen and Tom Fogerty started well in the first few overs, being watchful of the odd short ball put in by Strong. Fogerty was caught in the gully off the same Kenn bowler and he was followed by Jack Hatton who was gone a couple of balls later as he could not resist a short and wide ball from Gannon, slicing it to second slip. Ewen played one on to his stumps from Gannon as Bridestowe's top order collapsed to 18-3 as Mark Fogerty joined Phi Hatton. The two wise heads played cautiously as they looked to rebuild and both ran well together. Just before the drinks break and towards the 100 mark, things began to turn sour. Fogerty was dismissed lbw by O'Rourke for a good 29 and Alex Jopling went the next ball in similar fashion.  After the drinks break Dan Fogerty was also gone, bowled by Mason as Bridestowe had six gone with less than 100 on the board. James Ewen joined Phil Hatton with the latter striking consecutive straight boundaries as Bridestowe passed 100. But Hatton hit the ball straight to mid-off and departed for 39. James Ewan, now partnered by Chris Lavis, was knocking the ball around with ease as Kenn spread the field. A heavy rain shower then set in and caused the game to be reduced to 42 per side. Mason bowled Lavis (31) while Ewan added a vital 33 before being caught to the same bowler. Bridestowe were finally bowled out for 177, having made a good recovery from 102-7.  Dan and Tom Fogerty opened the bowling and immediately gave Kenn batsmen Parsons and Brag some problems. Dan was rewarded in his fourth over, finding the edge of Parsons with James Ewan taking a comfortable catch at gully. Muir was trapped by Tom Fogerty lbw, while Lavis disposed of Brag (31) with a brilliant yorker. Boother struck in his first over, bowling Koeller and Bridestowe were on top at 44-4. Lavis got rid of the experienced Mason with a stunning caught and bowled to make it 50-5 at the halfway stage. Next batsman Gaydon rode his luck as he and Chislett build a partnership. Lavis (9-2-31-2) finished his allocation and was replaced by Jutson who had Gaydon (16) caught by Tom Fogerty at deep midwicket. Chislett (17) was bowled two balls later to make it 81-7. Jutson got rid of Gannon thanks to a sharp stumping by Mark Fogerty, Hutchins (23) contributed as Kenn made a total of 135-9. Jutson was the pick of the Bridestowe bowlers with 7-1-19-4.