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Posted:
Thursday 5th June 2008
Source: Stephen Birley
This coming weekend is week TEN of a 25 week campaign so the
season is rapidly moving towards the half way mark. The First
Division looks like serving up the closest title race in living
memory for after week 9�s fixtures had been completed there were
no fewer than FIVE sides all within a slender 1.6 points average
of each other.
In recent years the bench mark has always
been that the eventual champions have only ever lost TWO games
in the entire season and as things stand EVERY side in the top
flight has now suffered at least one defeat. Sandford took over
top spot last weekend and it was a �Bradninch lad� who took the
honours with our Chairman�s nephew, Richard Foan hitting his
second successive score in the 90�s to lead the side to a 50 run
win at the home of previously unbeaten Lynton & Lynmouth.
In a day of surprises the only other
unbeaten record also bit the dust when Filleigh went down to
Bideford in a low scoring affair. Just one other game was
scheduled for the 1st division and that saw reigning champions
finally win, albeit at the 5th time of asking when they won by
68 runs at hapless Beaford who are now the bottom side in the
table.
There are two games in the top flight this
coming weekend (June 8th) they are:
BIDEFORD versus BEAFORD
This is joint 2nd bottom hosting basement
dwellers. Bideford were surprise winners last Sunday winning at
Filleigh. This is a surprise in as much as prior to the game
Bideford�s record read played three, lost three and of course
their hosts at the weekend had previously played three and won
three. It may be rather premature to count Bideford out of the
title race for they have only played three games to date and if
they don�t lose another game from here on in then they will
finish very close to being champions. Beaford have played five
and LOST five and look �odds on� to be the one side who will
slip out of the top flight at the end of the campaign (it may
well be just one to go down after the early season withdrawal of
North Molton A).
NEWTON TRACEY versus LYNTON & LYNMOUTH
Joint 2nd bottom face 2nd at the home of
the reigning champions. Newton Tracey last year won the 1st
Division at the very first time of asking as they, like
Bradninch 1st XI this term, won the 2nd Division and took the
top honour at the first attempt, but after losing each of their
first four games any hopes of retaining the title have already
gone, they won for the first time last weekend, beating Beaford.
Lynton meanwhile were being beaten for the first time last time
out when a Richard Foan inspired knock helped Sandford become
the first team to beat them, and replace them at the top of the
table.
Bradninch are next in action in the First
Division on Sunday June 22nd when they travel to Filleigh.
Current table prior to the week 10 games:
|
Division One |
P |
W |
L |
C/Ab |
Pts |
Average |
|
Sandford |
6 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
88 |
17.60 |
|
Filleigh |
4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
68 |
17.00 |
|
Bradninch |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
50 |
16.66 |
|
North Devon |
5 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
82 |
16.40 |
|
Lynton & Lynmouth |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
48 |
16.00 |
|
Newton Tracey |
5 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
45 |
9.00 |
|
Bideford |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
27 |
9.00 |
|
Beaford |
5 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
19 |
3.80 |
The Bradninch 2nd XI look like not having a
game this weekend for scheduled hosts Black Torrington have
already cried off in each of their first FIVE matches citing an
inability to raise a side. But there are games on Saturday and
Sunday in Division Five. The one Saturday game is at Nomansland
where Weare Giffard the visitors whilst leaders and 100%
Halberton put their perfect start on the line at home to
Filleigh III and Weare Giffard complete a double header of
weekend matches with a visit from North Molton.
Current table:
|
Division Five |
P |
W |
L |
C/Ab |
Pts |
Average |
|
Halberton |
6 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
100 |
20.00 |
|
Nomansland |
4 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
40 |
20.00 |
|
Weare Giffard |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
30 |
15.00 |
|
Filleigh III |
7 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
89 |
14.83 |
|
North Molton |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
28 |
9.33 |
|
Barnstaple & Pilton III |
5 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
28 |
9.33 |
|
Bradninch |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
26 |
8.66 |
|
Black Torrington |
5 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
00 |
0.00 |
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