The Sweep 25 Week 13: Ones are second best but could still be silver medallists
- Cornwood Cricket club
- Jul 29, 2025
- 7 min read
Words: Simon Travers
Match Photos: Ivor Thomas
If there’s one thing writing the Sweep has taught me, it’s that the worst kind of luck is to be a lucky champion in the Devon Cricket League. From the Premier Division to H Division West, if you fluke or fake success, cricket karma will come for a word around the back of the changing rooms. What works is to build until it’s obvious that what you’ve made is tall, strong and special.
After a difficult start to the season, the Ones have been building and came into their match against Bradninch & Kentisbeare knowing a home win would bring them within ten points of the current league leaders.
Bradninch & Kentisbeare present a formidable challenge with the bat and they arguably pip the Ones as the best bowling unit in Devon. Gary Chappell, Ross Acton and Malusi Siboto are all in the Division’s top 10 with over 20 wickets each at an average of 20.62 or below. Having elected to bat, Cornwood were under pressure from the start as veteran South African seamer Malusi Siboto bowled Chris Parker first ball. Six overs later, he had done the same to Charles Finan. 27-2 became 29-5 as Ross Acton (10-3-22-3) found enough left arm inswing to register LBWs against Ben Beaumont, Matt Skeemer and George Thompson.
Samarpit Joshi (46 from 95) and Elliott Staddon fought to put on 49 runs for the sixth wicket in 104 balls. Each run was begrudgingly conceded by a Bradninch attack that refused to bowl a pressure release ball. Joshua Farley (8.5-2-21-3) was the beneficiary as the screws tightened, removing Elliott Staddon, Matt Butterworth and James Richardson. Cornwood were bowled out for 92. That’s the first time that the Ones have been bowled out for less than a hundred since their 2020 covid match against Plymouth. It’s the team’s lowest score against Bradninch since July 1991.
Matthew Skeemer and Elliott Staddon asked enough questions to momentarily make the game interesting with 3 quick wickets. However, Andrew Buzza (45* from 38) and Jonathan Triner (38* from 28) made sure of the victory in 14.1 overs. This was a statement win for Bradninch & Kentisbeare. The Ones have beaten everyone else in the league bar a cancellation with Exmouth, but over two games, they are a clear step behind the current and presumptive champions. Bradninch & Kentisbeare have built something that currently looks like Devon’s state of the art club cricket squad.
It’s still all to play for in the last 5 weeks though for the Ones. Cornwood have never placed higher than fourth and they have never won 10 games in a Premier Division season. The club can break new ground and it’s tough ground for West Devon teams to break. In the 52 full seasons of the Devon Cricket League, there has only been one West Devon based champion (1973 Plymst**k), four West Devon based runners up (last time was 2014 Plymouth) and ten West Devon third place finishes (last time was 2021 Plymouth). Less than 10% of the all-time DCL podium finishes have gone to West Devon teams. There is still time to build something special this summer.
Elsewhere in the Premier Division, Bradninch & Kentisbeare’s lead was extended to 30 points as Paignton’s batting struggles resurfaced in a 4 wicket loss to Sandford. Exmouth jump into second scoring two runs for every one that Heathcoat managed. Exeter batted Plymouth out of their match and Sidmouth snuck out of the dropzone with a win over North Devon. In A Division, Tavistock look on course to make 2026 their first season in the top flight for 20 years.
The Twos travelled to the Kate Brook Sports Centre to face Chudleigh for the first time as a team. The last time that an Oak Park squad visited was 2018 when the Ones scored their third highest ever team total of 299-5. That day Mohammed Salman hit an unbeaten 111 that was well supported by captain Matt Skeemer (63 in 64) and young Ben Beaumont (52 from 63). The Twos would have welcomed that kind of blow out win on Saturday, but they found themselves having to apply themselves for victory.
The afternoon started with a dominant bowling performance from the Twos. Will Sharp (9-4-17-2) and Harry Woolway (9-3-28-1) were both excellent through 9 over spells with the new ball. There were just the 93 dot balls shared equally between them in the first 18 overs. At 48-3 after 18 overs, with danger batter Will Heather removed without score, Chudleigh had to rely on Rob Clarke to build their innings. Clarke responded with 42 from 78 as the Twos bowlers continued to press. There were two wickets each for the Caunter brothers, while Matt Puttock led the bowling figures with 3-20. Matt is part of the glue that holds the Twos together. He has quietly had a really influential season.
The scorecard will read that the Twos almost made a Horlicks of the chase, reaching their target of 143 with seven wickets down. There’s truth in that, but the reality was a little more complex. Openers Harry Woolway and Robin Dart (32 from 36) saw off the new ball comfortably so Chudleigh resorted to spin. Mike Brown’s flighted slow left armers proved effective as he took a five-fer (9-0-40-5). Brown bowled well and probed but was also the beneficiary of a generous portion of luck. Beyond the common and garden decisions that may have gone another way another Saturday, further than Noah Carlisle smoking a line drive to deep midwicket where Rajkumar Neeiam took a great catch, Robin Dart’s stumping from a ricochet as the Chudleigh keeper tried a hockey save with an outstretched leg to stop byes was something else. Without luck in a must-win situation, the Twos still got home. That close shave looked better immediately as Teignmouth & Shaldon dropped a home game to South Devon. The Twos stay top of C Division West, Ashburton are 4 points behind, Teignmouth & Shaldon trail by 19.
The Threes have already ticked off their year’s target by securing their place in E Division West. With six games to go, they are able to set stretch goals and try to chase a back-to-back promotion. Only two Third XI teams have broken into D Division cricket, Heathcoat 3XI in 2023 and Sidmouth 3XI in 2021. The Threes were able to push themselves on Saturday against E Division’s leaders, Abbotskerswell 2XI. While wickets were tumbling at Oak Park, bombs were raining down across the track. For the first time this year, it was Grewal O’Clock at Delamore Park. Ewan hit 70 from 51 with 7 fours and 5 sixes coming at roughly 5 minute intervals to jet propel the Threes to 106-3 in the first 15 overs. That innings was followed by a 27 ball barrage for Ethan Carlisle the scored 55 with 5 fours and another 5 sixes. However, things were tougher at the other end. Bashitha Hewagamage lead the bowling with 3-29 and other bowlers chipped in. The Three’s target of 221 looked decent, particularly after an opening spell from Andy Bees of 9-4-15-2. Andy has 23 wickets at 9.70 and an economy rate of 2.82 so far this season. However, the most substantial innings of the day fell to Erik Gregersen who made 113* from 96 to secure a 6 wicket win for Abbotskerswell. That loss brings the Threes into a tie for second place with Tavistock 2XI. They clash on 16th August.
The Fours’ challenge remains to stay above the G Division West drop zone. They travelled to Ford Park to play a more experienced Plymouth 3XI team. Bowling first, Eoin Hewitt (8-0-26-2) made early inroads into the host’s top order. From 27-3, Plymouth took over and there were fifties for George Toms (64), Jake Smith (91) and Anzil Nazumudeen (51* from 21) in a total of 262-7. Plymouth then dominated with the ball, bowling the Fours for 70 in 22 overs. The Fours stay eighth, four points above Chagford.
Sunday was a happier day at the club with big wins for the Super 8s and Fifth XI. In the morning, the Super 8s team put in a great performance to beat Bovey Tracey by 71 runs and secure a trip to the Plate finals day with an unbeaten record. Batting first, captain Helly Simpson retired not out with a rapid 32* from 14 balls including 6 boundaries. Keeley Willcock (3-1-9-3) and Bella Martyn (3-0-13-3) tore through the Bovey Tracey batting as the team were dismissed for 45 in 8.4 overs. It is a great achievement for a young and developing team to get back to finals day so convincingly.
Social cricket keeps delivering great finishes this year and Sunday afternoon’s SDCL game against Plympton brought more fun in the sun. The match saw the return of Finn Torley, who clearly still loves the club enough to wear his Cornwood shirt (with fetching blue pads) in tribute. Batting first, Finn got pushed the run rate with 51* retired from 41 while Paul Burn (32) dropped anchor. Matthew Duckworth also hit 50* from 30, as Plympton reached a total of 210-5. Steve Martyn and Noah Garland set the base for Cornwood’s reply with a 57 run first wicket partnership. From there, Sam Gibbs and Henry Moulding were able to build a substantial partnership that positioned the team to need around 8 an over for the last 10. Sam looked fluent and confident driving towards his first ever 50. He reached retirement in 34 balls with 7 fours. Paul Jones took a flurry of wickets (3-13) with balls that soared and dipped like swifts around Oak Park, but those wickets brought captain Nathan Parsons to the crease. What followed was pure box office. Even with the Women’s Euro Final on in the clubhouse, the bars clear when Nathan is on and he brought the team home with 49* from 17 balls. It was actually Henry Moulding who scored the winning runs, which was appropriate as he played a great hand to tie his career best with 33* from 41. Both teams contributed to an inclusive, truly social game of cricket.
Two matches from the Colts section this week. Sam made 30* from 20 for the Tier 1 Under 15s against Plymouth but that wasn’t quite enough to secure the win. Ivybridge won comfortably in the Under 13s last Tier 1 match of the year.
Next week, the Ones welcome Sidmouth to Oak Park, the Twos are heading for a big match in Brixham, the Threes head to Dartington & Totnes while the Fours host PCS&R 2XI. Sunday sees the start of the Women’s Firsts’ August road trip as they head to Exeter, while the Fives get an instant rematch with Plympton. Also, there’s this P&D game that I need to tell you about...
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