22 Jun 2008 - South Devon Tour

Maybe it was because it was their 13th tour, celebrated with day-glo lime green shirts, that Kingswood`s 16 vested virtuosos were heading for the coast, of South Devon, and found victories hard to come by.

In the first fixture at Kenn, played mostly in the rain, Kingswood never put enough runs on the board. A 91 second wicket partnership between Kevin Morgan (42) and Rod Alexander (47) might sound OK, but took 23 overs. When Rod ran out his next two partners, the chances of acceleration were further limited, especially against the nagging off-spin of 10 year old Dan Gosling (3-13), until a brisk stand between Richard Wilding and Ed Holcombe in the last four overs ended the innings at 165-7, probably 50 short of a competitive total.

With Kenn 30-3, thanks to Ed Holcombe and Steve Moran, Kingswood seemed back in the game but a 101 partnership in 12 overs put paid to any hopes as the hosts romped home with six wickets and 15 overs to spare.

The second game at Shaldon, overlooking the Teign estuary, was always threatened by rain. Sensibly, a 20 over game was agreed, and concluded just in time. Against a young attack, Richard Wilding`s 94 and Ed Holcombe`s unbeaten maiden 50, brought a handsome 166-2 off the 20 overs. Early wickets suggested a Kingswood victory, but again a youngster, 15 year old Nick Moore with (38) and a strangely familiar guest player, Kevin Morgan (65*), kept up the asking rate. Only a tight 20th over from Ben Guy saved the game with Kingswood squeezing home by two runs.

The final game at Kentisbeare again saw Kingswood undone by a younger side. The ageing and ailing tourists thought they saw the solution by phoning home for their young prodigies, who duly arrived, ready to salvage Kingswood`s honour. Alas, it was not to be; Steve Moran (16) and Kevin Morgan (12) reached double figures, but it was only 64 year old David Hatton with classical on-driving, who gave the tourists any hope. Graciously reprieved by Kentisbeare from the umpire`s trigger finger, he became the oldest club member to score a Tour half century. Even so, the 116 all out was far from enough. Though 16 year old Jay Simmons nipped two early wickets, two Kentisbeare youngsters made light work of the target in just 17 overs and by seven wickets.

Perhaps the problem was not unlucky 13 or the dazzle of day-glo but rather the inability to compete with youth.