Cheriton Fitzpaine are alive and kicking despite pulling out of the Tolchards Devon League last season. Team-raising problems forced the mid-Devon club to withdraw from the competition in late July. The Cherries joined the Devon League in 2010 and were running a 1st and 2nd XI until 2012.

Cheriton have re-entered the North Devon League for 2016 and have an afternoon match of one sort or another every weekend of the season. They won't be changing their sumptuous teas!

Among the fixtures booked for the season ahead is a village T20 tournament. â€œWe are pleased to have Yeoford, Rackenford, Erratics and Newton St Cyres join us for a fun league,” said Cheriton fixture secretary Mike Foan. â€œAll matches will be played at Cheriton, with the top four competing on a finals day in August. We have made the rules to help all players to be involved and added some extra fun. lf you hit a six into the cattle feeder beyond the boundary, you score an extra point for your team.”

Foan said 2015 had been a tough year for the club and returning to a less competitive environment was the right move.

“We need to build our enthusiasm and membership after a disappointing 2015,” said Foan. â€œWe are unlikely to have the talent required to play in the DCL again, so we will return to providing friendly village cricket for all standards and for all ages of players, who play for the love of the game. 

“We are looking for new players, who would like to join us ‘village people’ who enjoy our cricket. We have a lovely ground at Hayne Farm and would welcome a scorer who would enjoy the fun from our new scoring area. New sight screens will also be in place this season to make it easier for us older players.”

From the Devon Cricket Website - http://www.devoncricket.co.uk/page.asp?p=16_3_cheriton