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Posted:
Sunday 2nd May 2010
Source: Stephen Birley
The opening day of the 2010 Francis Clark season can only be
described in a single word - 'disastrous' - after the 1st XI
managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory - not once,
but twice, against visiting Braunton, and the 2nd XI slumped to
a big run defeat at Hatherleigh.
The 1st XI had the visitors just where they wanted them with the
North Devon side in all sorts of trouble in damp conditions on
57-6. However the tail wagged and they managed to climb to a
more respectable, but still ‘under-par’ 161 in the final one of
their 50 overs.
Skipper Ross Acton and Gary Chappell both emerged with great
credit for their efforts with the ball, each claiming
four-wicket hauls. The skipper’s 14.3 overs saw him return
figures of 4-52 and Chappell sent down 145 overs for his 4-28.
Paul Nott took the other wicket to fall, his figures being 1-40
in 14 overs and the fourth bowler deployed was Haydn Murray who
bowled six overs and returned figures of 0-35.
A real problem for the home side was the fielding with no fewer
than seven catches being put down. Skipper Acton saying:
“The catching was woeful and there needs to be a lot of work
done in that department, and quickly.”
Then, with the bat, the home side looked to be in total control
of the game at 102-2 but the middle order fell away alarmingly
and the score board was quickly reduced to 109-7, from where
there was to be no recovery and when the final wicket fell with
the score on 143 it left Braunton the opening day winners by a
margin of 18 runs.
Once again Haydn Murray led the way with the bat, proving the
top score of 36. Debutant Max Fernie scored 35 at the top of the
order. However, thereafter only Gary Chappell (22), batting at
number four, and number ten bat, Billy Wakeley (16), managed to
reach double figures. Wakeley was last man out with five overs
still to play.
The skipper said:
“It was not good enough. The catching was well below what
you would expect at this level and some of the batting could
best be described as being ‘brain dead’.
However, looking on the positive side of things, we did bowl
well and it was a good effort in that department to restrict
them to 160 in 50 overs. Also, we do have players to come in and
allow us to shuffle the pack for match day two when hopefully we
will see an all-round improvement at Plympton.”
Plympton were rained off in their opener at Exeter where not a
single ball was bowled in anger.
If it was disappointing at Kensham Park then it was a case of
double trouble at Hatherleigh where the 2nd XI were thumped by a
whopping 170 runs! The home side batted first and bagged maximum
bating points, closing on 215-7. Andy Nicholls was the pick of
the bowlers with a four-wicket haul. The evergreen Nicholls
returned figures of 4-36 and Mark Perrott bagged a brace.
However it was also the case that, like the senior side at home,
far too many catching opportunities went to ground! The reply
floundered on 45, leaving the side to lick their wounds on the
long journey home. Next up for Phil Chappell’s men is a first
home game of the new season next Saturday against a South Devon
side who had Barton at 87-6 in reply to their 119-8 when bad
light stopped play.
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