Words: Simon Travers
Match Photos: Ivor Thomas
Would you like a stat? Of course you would. In the seven days between Sunday 7th and Saturday 13th July, a relatively quiet week with no matches for the Women’s First team, Oaks Softball team, Boys Under 13s, Under 11s or Under 10s, 81 players pulled on a Cornwood shirt to represent the club in a match. Just under a quarter of those 81 played in multiple games. Meanwhile, our teams are delivering competitive cricket. So far this year, your 5 flagship DCL and DCWL league teams combined have won 32 and lost 16 with 1 tie in league matches. There’s success and great performances at all levels of colts and a rewilding of social cricket adding to the club’s biodiversity. How is participation combining with good results? The answer is based in getting it right off the park.
The Sweep will never apologise for reminding that there are no short cuts or quick fixes in running a cricket club. What works is slow and patient building towards a safe, welcoming, fun place for everyone to be. That can’t happen without a culture of volunteering. I was reminded again this weekend that Cornwood shines because its volunteer army has been building for decades. From the committee and selectors to the grounds team, our catering brigade, colt’s managers and coaches, our umpires and scorers and everyone who lends a hand or gives a lift, the club rises on the goodwill of dozens of committed people who mostly neither bat nor bowl. If everyone invoiced for time given to the club, the total bill each year would easily top 6 figures. That social capital gets reflected on the pitch in runs and wickets, but also in the precious sense of genuine community that we are one big Cornwood family.
This week’s round up starts with a celebration of the Delamore Park teams, who are both currently rolling. The Threes entered the weekend top of F Division West with a chance to put clear water between themselves and a chasing pack that is headed up by visitors Stokeinteignhead.
Through the first eleven games of the season, opposition teams have averaged a total of 2.81 batting points per game against the Threes bowlers. Opponents have only reached 150 three times across the season. Stokeinteignhead won the toss and elected to bat. The teams played through the weather that delayed play on Oak Park and the combination of Andy Bees and Josh Cumberland reduced the visitors to 64-6. Andy Bees currently has an economy rate of 2.41 over 8 Third team appearances and delivered 5 maidens on Saturday. Josh Cumberland led the Cornwood figures with 8-1-19-4, his first four-fer in a Cornwood shirt. 68 runs for the 7th wicket between Jamie Clinkett (43) and Lishoy George (32) averted disaster for Stokeinteignhead but the Cornwood bowlers remained in control. The visitors batted out their 40 to post a total of 145-8.
The Threes top order started the chase at a clip of around five an over but wickets fell regularly to put them at 81-5. Captain Adam Whiting and Duncan Cumberland (34 from 32) combined their experience to get the team home with a 68* run sixth wicket stand. A five wicket victory creates breathing space for the Threes at the top of the F Division West table. Second place Bovey Tracey 3XI were on the wrong end of an upset at home to Brixham 2XI and are now a full 20 points behind the Threes.
The Fours travelled to Petrockstowe for the first match in a crucial three week mini season of battles against teams in the G Division West relegation zone. After two years where the Fours looked adrift in their division, Captain Marc Whaley has helped the team deliver a run of consistent, competitive and focussed performances. There is still work to do but mid-table safety is definitely achievable, and would represent a triumph of slow and patient building. As it turned out, there was nothing slow or patient about a match against Hatherleigh 3XI that was shorter than the drive to get there. A young Fours bowling attack demolished their opponents in 17.1 overs for a meagre 29 runs. That is a brand new Fourth team record, beating the 35 that Chelston 2XI were skittled for on 16th July, 2011. Sam Cumberland was chief instigator with an impressive honours board spell of 8-2-13-6. His efforts were ably supported by the pace of Ayaan Chatterjee and Neel Shivane. A boundary an over was all it took for Ewan Horner and Charlie Farmer to complete a 10 wicket rout in 5.1 overs. 20 points for the win while the hosts came away empty takes the Fours seventh in G Division West 9 points above the relegation zone.
On Sunday, Megan Hayward continued her impressive breakthrough into the Women’s Firsts team with a match-winning 88* against Paignton. Cornwood were put into bat and the match was set up by two early partnerships. Megan and Gemma Lancaster put on 55 for the first wicket before Kat Frost (34 from 44) joined Megan to score 88 for the second. Megan batted through the innings unbeaten to score 88* from 114 balls with 11 fours and a six. Paignton gave the Women’s Firsts total of 186-4 a good chase. They proved solid in defence as after early wickets, Ella Gill (67* from 99) and Naomi Hancock (30 from 64) put on an unbeaten 89 for the 3rd. Wicket taking was challenging, but Cornwood’s top bowlers kept it tight enough to leave Paignton needing 106 from the last 10 overs. Cornwood ran out winners by 54 runs. That victory solidifies the Women’s Firsts second spot in the league as North Devon were upset by Hatherleigh.
At Oak Park on Saturday, the Ones hit a frustrating afternoon as Bradninch & Kentisbeare demonstrated why the Premier title race looks to be a two-horse affair between them and Sandford. Travelling to Cornwood on the back of a massive 318 run victory over Plympton, stand in Captain Eliot Acton won the toss and batted despite the weather around. The Ones bowlers were on top for the first 20 overs of the innings, keeping things tight as Bradninch reached 54-2. A significant rain delay reduced the match to 38 overs a side and the visitors hit T20 mode on resumption. There were no answers with either spin or seam as Daniel Hardy (81* from 85) and Madawa Warnapura put on 118 for the third wicket in 112 balls. Once Warnapura was dismissed on 57*, Justin Wubbeling hit 37* from 22 as Bradninch reached 218-3 in their 38 overs.
DLS inflated that target to 228 in 38 overs. The Ones stayed in the game for 21 overs as Ben Beaumont (48 from 45) led a 68 run third wicket partnership with Elliott Staddon. Scoreboard pressure told though and 114/3 collapsed into 141 all out. Joshua Farley passed 20 wickets for the season with an average of 11.91 as he claimed 5 for 30 in 5.5 overs. The Ones ended 86 runs light in Bradninch’s first win against Cornwood since 1st June, 2013, breaking a streak of 9 wins and 1 cancellation.
Elsewhere in the Premier, Sandford kept pace with Bradninch by beating Sidmouth away. Both Exeter and Exmouth continued to show their strength with good wins and Bovey Tracey beat Plympton in the relegation match up. Their loss drops the Ones to Fifth, 45 points behind the leaders with seven games to go.
Things were considerably more relaxed for the Twos as they outplayed a disjointed Brixham side in every department. Brixham started briskly enough as Dalton Sanders hit 45 and Tom Hopper 47, putting on 70 for the second wicket. Pace off was the best option as Lee Baker and Jacob Caunter both slowed runs and took a pair of wickets. Harry Woolway came back for his own brace and Brixham were 146-7 from 35.3 overs when a short heavy shower came. The area around the pitch took long enough to dry to close Brixham’s innings. Josh Goodliffe’s opening 30 from 22 depressurised the chase, giving time for Noah Carlisle to lead the way home. Noah never looked threatened on his way to 60* from 78, and neither did Sam Griffiths, ably supporting with 36* from 38. The Twos got home with seven wickets and 8.2 overs to spare. The Twos remain third in C Division West as only one of three teams currently with a winning record.
The Under 19s got on the board with a confident win at Lewdown on Thursday night. While there is still space for the team to sharpen in the field, all six bowlers used took wickets. Stanley Baker, on Under 19s debut, had the best figures with 3 for 7. Sam Ford and Joe Davies both dominated their match-ups with the top order and middle order respectively. Lewdown were bowled out for 89 from 15.3 overs. With net run rate only applying in the unlikely event of a three-way tie in the West division, the Under 19s opted for safety first to ensure they got the points. Finn Torley scored 31 from 39 and the chase was completed with seven wickets remaining in a nice round 100 balls.
The focus in the Colts this week is the Under 15s, who have a chance to win their division if they win out their last matches. Part one of the mission was accomplished with a 41 run win over Plympton. Stanley (52*) and Sam (41) both came to the fore with the bat while Chester (28 and 2 for 16) had a great all-round night on route to a total of 172-7. That proved plenty, even with a 50 for Harry for Plympton.
Next weekend starts with the Colts Awards Night on Friday. Then it's derby time again next weekend as the Ones host Plympton, the Twos make the trek to Ivybridge, the Threes head to Brixham and the Fours host Whitchurch. On Sunday, the Women’s Firsts head to the end of the compass for their match against North Devon.
Comments