A depleted Honiton 2nd XI picked up their first win of the season when they hosted local rivals Feniton/Ottery St Mary.

The home side were eager to kick start their season after three weeks of underwhelming performances.

Harry Court, who had claimed to possess key information about the rival team’s tactics and line-up, was proven wrong as former Honiton player Riley Burgess didn't make an appearance for the opposition.

Captain Steve Haysom won the toss and opted to field first.

He implemented a strategy with a mix of conservative and aggressive bowling from Hill and Court; a tactic that saw Feniton's initial progress limited largely to boundary hits and wides.

One bright spot in Honiton's bowling line-up was Rick Empson, who took to the field with a signature left-arm spin.

During his stint, Court found his rhythm and picked up 2-19 from 8 overs, despite considerable wides.

Marc Bell, a new signing on the Honiton team, made an impressive catch, following it up with consistent fieldwork, aided by his teammates Bell, Wittey, Willmington, and Court.

The rivals’ innings ended with 174-5, marking a fair effort on both sides.

Midweek Herald: Cricket in full flow again

Nonetheless, questions loomed over whether Honiton’s batting could stand up to their opposition.

Star batsman Martin Willmington and Steve Haysom began the Honiton innings calmly, absorbing the early pressure from Feniton’s quick bowlers.

A sudden change of pace led to Haysom being caught out, leaving Honiton on 38-1.

The game’s momentum shifted when Adrian Coombe joined the fray.

Coombe, along with Andy Empson, successfully took control of the game.

They displayed a blend of tactical and aggressive batting that kept spectators engaged and their opponents under pressure.

Empson managed to hit an impactful half-century, only falling out at 62 when caught short on the second run.

Yet, this hardly fazed Honiton's team.

They remained in control, with Adrian Coombe sealing the game with his score of 44 not out, along with Marc Bell.

Ultimately, Honiton's first win of 2024 was received with great relief.

They picked up 17 points from this game and moved to 8th place in the league standings.

An afternoon that was only tarnished by the stark arctic temperatures of the player's post-game showers.

The improved team performance has brought a much-needed spark to Honiton 2nd XI's season.