Another solid team performance today against a good Exmouth side.
We were put into bat first and despite losing an early wicket the boys recovered well and kept the score board ticking over thanks to good running between the wickets and periodic boundaries.
Exmouth have good bowlers and fielded well so we ended up losing 8 wickets in our innings but posted a defendable total.
In the field I asked the boys to field with discipline and keep their bowling tight, which they did very well.
As well as having good bowlers, Exmouth also have battters with good technique so to keep them pegged back with regular wickets and good fielding was great to see.
In the end the boys won comfortably by 50 runs.
Every player can be pleased with their contribution, but Alex (2 wickets for 12 runs), Finn (2 wickets for just 6 runs, and Sean and Aaron with 13 runs each deserve mentioning.
Despite it perhaps not being the strongest Exmouth side there is still a lot of quality in it so to beat them comfortably is a sign how far the boys have come this season.

Match Report u13s v Topsham by Rob Ellis

Another Monday, another away game vs Topsham. And it certainly felt like groundhog day for many of our u13s side (and their ever enthusiastic support). Not only the venue, and opponent - but the ridiculously tiny boundary, and Topsham batting first! So hopes were high for a repeat victory for Budleigh, despite facing the league’s top side.
Just like last week, Topsham made an explosive start - making the most of the cramped conditions to repeatedly send the ball flying over the rope. Punishing anything slightly loose, our hosts accelerated to 77 after just 6 overs, and established a control they rarely relinquished. Assisted by the tricky ground conditions, a rouge bounce that brought Sam Ms throat into the game, and subsequently some tentative fielding in the deep (if it can be called that at around 30 yards) - only retirement of their top two batters slowed the run rate. Nonetheless, persistence paid with 2 quick wickets in the 12th, a smart delivery from Dylan, and then 13th overs, a plumb lbw to Sam M, immediately after returning to the field following his injury. Finishing with a lovely wicket in the final over, Katy brought the innings to close - with Topsham setting 191/3, and another testing chase.
With the rate required >9.5, Hugo and Feddie got us off to a flier - but the need to push on and amass runs quickly ultimately undid both, and a number of our batters, with some canny Topsham bowling ousting our players when attempting some exuberant, expansive shots! Certainly can't fault their ambition. A hugely impressive cameo by Sam W, briefly brought the prospect of an unlikely victory back into the frame in 11th over, plundering 4 sixes (and losing the match ball in a distant hedge!), 26 runs saw us reach 108/2, and the run rate return below 10 for the first time since the 2nd over.
With Sam W retiring unbeaten on 45, and 2 quick wickets at the start of the 12th, the game got away. But special mention to Jacob, Katy and Isaac, who were able to see out the 20 overs, and lead us to a very respectable 161/7.

Not the win we hoped, but another solid team performance, and definitely a great showing against the league leaders.