Match

Feniton vs Stoke Gabriel - 03/05/08 - Away - Francis Clark Devon League - C Division

Line Up

Steve Tolley

Rob Baker

Alex Hill

Bill Alcock +

Jamie Day

Neil Robinson *

Adam Newman

Matt Corstorphin

Nick Sandbrook

Dave Bolland

Sean Dwyer

Result

Stoke Gabriel win by 60 runs

Report

Stoke Gabriel signaled their intention, not only to be among the front runners in the C Division, but to put the nightmares of last season's capitulation at Kilmington behind them, with a fantastic opening day victory at Feniton, in front a hostile and partizan home crowd. New skipper Neil Robinson has been backed heavily by Messers Burnell and Webber in the close season to revolutionise his squad, and it was very much a new look side which was paraded  on Saturday, with a host of debutants, Stoke legends and has-beens amongst the eleven. Scoreboard operative Dave Worth remained in situ.

Feniton captain Mark Kingdom threw down the gauntlet to Shearings's army by inserting them, and the veteran schemer was delighted with the decision.

Stoke started brightly, with run-machine Steve Tolley dusting away the early season cobwebs in typically aggressive fashion, and when he bludgeoned Witton into the confectionery stall in only the 3rd over, another huge score from the Mattress looked inevitable, until he was on the receiving end of the Umpires digit, and with Rob Baker an early casualty to Pyle for only 1, Fention looked in the ascendancy as Stoke dipped to 31-2.

However, Shearing's pre-season team building has forged a side capable of batting right throughout the side, and so it proved with contributions throughout the order, as Alex "Diamonds" Hill ground out an innings of rare belligerence for a well crafted 31, and although new signing Jamie Day came and went for a breezy 8, his former Dawlish & Teignmouth team-mate Billy Alcock fashioned a stylish 21. Veteran skipper Robbo, cravat flapping in the early May breeze, and with the gentle aroma of Slim Panetellas and Gentleman's Relish in the air, steadied the ship at 100-5 when it seemed Stoke's aggressive stroke play might prove fatal. His experience proved instrumental in settling Adam Newman into the crease, in his first game back at the club following his switch to Brixham. The pair added 56 for the 6th wicket, until Robbo fell to a combination of LBW and Lumbago for 28, but Adam continued to accumulate in a mature innings which was equal parts rapier and scalpel, to finish on 46 not out, and with the assistance of some lower order cameos,  Stoke closed on 200 for 8. Pyle with 2-49 and Wittton with 3-50 were the pick of the Feniton attack.

Buoyed by a tea-time appearance from the Reader's Wife (August 2007 edition, page 19), Robbo led his army out to battle following tea, knowing absentees had left Fention light in their batting department, and the potential for an opening day maximum beckoned. Nick Sandbrook's early couple of overs were as rusty as the Titanic's hull, but he outwitted the dangerous Haysom for 14 with a ball that actually pitched, soon to be followed by Pullin and skipper Kingdom for 6, leaving Feniton reeling at 45-3. Feniton's Austalian import Robertson batted aggressively until the impressive Jamie Day (3-26) bowled him for a chance-laden 38, and was at it again soon after when he removed Frankpitt for 6. Enter Sean Dwyer. At 105-6, the veteran seamer (42) was chomping at the bit for a slice of the action, and was soon the centre of attention at the ground where he changed the game last season, when he tore through the Feniton lower order, rolling back the years to bag 4-15 off his 5 glorious overs, which included a smart stumping by the Geordie Billy, and an outrageous tumbling catch from debutant Dave Bolland, who also bowled well without luck.  Easterbrook (19*) offered brief resistance for the home side, but once Jamie Day trapped Witton LBW, the game was won, with Feniton collapsing to a disappointing 140 all out. Stoke's Aussie Matt Corstorphin showed promise and pace, and was unlucky to finish without a wicket, particularly after Sandy's outlandish river-dance on the boundary.

A fantastic start to the season for Robbo's charges, who claim 20 paints and sent out a message to the other sides in the division that they are still the team to watch in this campaign. The skipper will be delighted with his blend of old and new players, which promises for a successful season for the J E Eastley Memorial Field side.

Pimms Moment: Dave Bolland's catch.

Scorecard

1st Innings - Stoke Gabriel

2nd Innings - Feniton