LymeOnline Weekly Sports Roundup – May 19 2023

LymeOnline looks back at local sport of the past week, with summer sports now well underway.

See our Sports section for full reports on all the below and more.

FOOTBALL

This might well have been a disappointing season on the field of play for Lyme Regis Football Club but the final game at the Davey First on Saturday turned into a real celebration.

A crowd of 200-plus turned up – not necessarily to watch the Seasiders fight for sixth place in the Devon and Exeter Premier League – but to pay homage to one of the Lyme club’s favourite sons, veteran goalkeeper Chris Higgs.

Higgs was playing his last game for Lyme after 30 years between the sticks and it out turned to be a bit of a ‘love-fest’ for one of the club’s most popular characters.

Having past the big 40, Higgsy has decided to call it a day after a season plagued by injury. He was substituted in the 89th minute so the crowd, the biggest by far of the season, could show their appreciation.

Captain Rob Fellingham handed him the captain’s armband for the day and Higgs led out his team for his very last game in the goalie’s jersey, which was later signed by all his fellow players and officials.

He did so with a reputation second to none and still one of the best keepers in the Devon and Exeter League.

Having snatched a late goal in there 92nd minute of the game against fourth-placed Kentisbeare to draw the game 2-2, Lyme then lined up to cheer Higgsy off the pitch with the crowd giving him a rousing farewell, which continued into the clubhouse where president Philip Evans praised his professionalism and commitment to his home club, before he was presented with engraved photo of one of his many fantastic saves by club vice-chair Francesca Evans.

Higgs, close to tears, said he would miss playing for the club but his body had taken enough punishment and he knew the time had come to step down.

The match ended in a 2-2 draw and so Lyme finish in seventh place in a season dogged with difficulties.

CRICKET

Uplyme and Lyme Regis got their Devon Cricket League season under way in a bizarre match at Ottery St Mary, losing by just one run after conceding two byes on the last ball in a run-out attempt that felled the umpire.

Ottery won the toss and elected to field with Uplyme scoring 223 for 7. Star man with the bat for Uplyme was new overseas player Preston Hilless with a stylish 77.

The home side set about chasing the Uplyme total and it came down to the last ball. In a confusing incident which saw the Uplyme umpire struck by the ball and left rolling in agony, Ottery ran two byes for a one-run victory.

Uplyme claimed it was a dead ball but the umpires did not agree and Ottery were given the game.

Uplyme, however, have made a good start to in the East Devon Bash T-20 competition, winning their first two games.

CROQUET

Lym Valley Croquet Club hosted Sidmouth CC at its Uplyme ground on Monday, May 15 in a SW Federation League Match.

Both clubs fielded teams of three. Richard Godfrey and Simon Kewley got off to a great start for Lym Valley in the morning doubles with a 26-9 victory while Huw Rees, after a slow start, came through to win his singles match 18-9.

After lunch, Lym Valley won two of the three singles, with Huw winning impressively 26-12 and Richard 26-19.

Simon Kewley’s opponent had a good run midway through their match and, although Simon fought back, he finally succumbed by one hoop, 16-17.

Lym Valley won the match 4-1, a great start to the season.

BOWLS

Down at the Charlie Mercer bowling green on Monmouth Beach, matches are coming thick and fast with the annual cub competition for the Ron Gridley Triples trophy being won by Keith Barnes, Paul Stoke Faires and Steve White who won all seven of their matches.