Hockey begins as the cricket comes to an end

After a convincing 6-2 victory away at Bude 1st XI the previous week, North Devon Hockey Club continued their pre-season form by winning the Exeter Hockey Club pre-season tournament on Saturday. 

North Devon overcame Taunton Vale 2nd XI 1-0 in the final, thanks to a deft deflection from Pete Smale, coming off Guy Cockcroft's wayward shot.

North Devon secured their place in the final match of the day by overcoming the 1st XI's of Exeter Hornets, Okehampton and the hosts themselves, only conceding one goal in total, from an Exeter penalty corner.

"We came undone last season by not defending well enough as a unit, but we've worked hard in training this month to remedy that and it's great to see that work starting to pay off,” said goalkeeper and Player of the Tournament, Sam Wormington.

The next day was a very different matter when it came to the weather, as the season finale of the North Devon Cricket League, the Blights Motors League Cup final, turned into a damp squib, as the match between Bideford and Belstone at Westward Ho! became the latest victim of this summer’s endless downpour.

This Sunday (September 24) had been pencilled in as a reserve date for the final, but a quick look at the forecast led to the decision to postpone the final until early next season, which should make for a thrilling start to the 2024 cricket campaign.

The Division 2 matches featuring Ilfracombe v Filleigh, and Lynton & Lynmouth v Nomansland were both abandoned, which confirmed Nomansland as divisional champions.

They played 14 overs in a Division 3 match at Petrockstowe on Saturday, as Hatherleigh 2s entertained Newton Tracey 2s, which was enough time for Charlie Presswell to score an unbeaten 58 before rain stopped play.

There's one more league game to be played, when Hatherleigh 2nds play Champions-elect Holsworthy in Division 3 next Sunday.

And then the pads can be put away for the winter.