BIDEFORD defeated Newton Tracey by eight wickets at Westward Ho! in the opening game of the North Devon League season.

Bideford skipper James Greenleaf won the toss and inserted the opposition in a game reduced to 38 overs per side.

It might be said Newton never got out of second gear as they limped to a total of 121 for eight. Rob Gear top scored with 26 with Martin and Simon Gear, as well as Kieran Soper chipping in with 17 each. Extras contributed 30. 

Of the eight Bideford bowlers deployed by Greenleaf, Jim (2-30) and Oliver Keates (2-17) took a couple of wickets each.

Tom Brend got Biddy’s reply off to a flyer, with a quickfire 39 off 29 balls, before he was dismissed by veteran seamer Richard Screech with the total on 63.

Surviving opener Jack Ford saw the home team home with an unbeaten half-century.

Early season rustiness led to Newton bowling 19 wides in the 20 overs Bideford needed to knock-off the runs.

North Devon’s fixture with Hatherleigh fell foul to the weather.