With the Met Office predicting heavy rain and thunderstorms for most of the day, there seemed little chance of the first team taking the field against Bradninch on Saturday, July 24.

However, as the start time approached the forecast updated and showed breaks in the rain and sunny spells. The rain stopped and as the sky brightened up the covers were taken off and a delayed start resulted in the game being reduced to 35 overs.

Bradninch were asked to bat first and the Honiton opening bowlers James Matravers and Corey Lapping gave little width, building pressure early on. Matravers took care of both openers and the dangerous captain Acton (bowled, caught & bowled and bowled) with Lapping taking the fourth wicket (bowled) leaving the visitors 27 for 4.

Willy Graham and Mike Docherty both bowling their 7 overs with control and accuracy conceding just 6 runs each, Graham picking up 3 wickets (lbw and 2 bowled) and Docherty with 2 wickets (caught & bowled and lbw) Ian Kelly with 3 maidens in his 4 overs and Robert Ingram also bowled well and with control, Ingram picking up the final wicket (lbw) leaving Bradninch all out for 70.

Honiton maintained their tradition of struggling to chase a low score. Openers Dave Haysom and Andrew Lapping strode to the crease but were not able to dominate the bowling. George Meadows hit a couple of boundaries but his fall was the start of a hat-trick of wickets that included Mike Docherty and Ben Kennell.

At 38 for 5 the visitors were looking favourites for an unlikely victory. Runs were hard to find as the pressure mounted on the batsmen and Bradninch continued chipping away with the 8th wicket falling with the scoreboard on 54 still 17 runs required.

Corey Lapping joined James Matravers who was batting with a level of maturity way beyond his age and it was Matravers who batted sensibly with the occasional boundary taking Honiton through to victory with the sides top score of 28no.

Man of the match went to James Matravers for both his bowling and batting, there is special mention also to Willy Graham and Mike Docherty for their spells, but collectively every single player contributed in one way or another in helping the team to achieve the victory. Many thanks to Jim Tucker for once again umpiring at both ends.