THE UMPIRES wore scarves, the scorer's fingers all but seized up with the cold, and one senior player, watching from the balcony, donned a woolly hat.

Outside it was dark and the temperature was below freezing, yet the summer sound of bat on ball could be heard distinctly.

Cricket is too good a fruit not to be tasted year round and, down a quiet lane in North Molton, the competitive winter season was nearing its climax.

The Kelsey Chiefs had come to defend their position at the top of the North Devon Indoor League in the spacious and ideally-suited venue of North Molton Sports and Community Centre.

And defend it they did, albeit after a shaky batting effort. Rescued by two early wickets taken by stand-in skipper Simon Murfet, they defeated Nomansland comfortably in the end.

Taking 10 points out of a maximum 12 in the six-a-side, limited-overs format, the Braunton-based Chiefs are now just three matches away from taking the title in their debut season.

At 58-5 in the ninth of their allotted 12 overs, and with only one wicket standing, the Chiefs seemed to have lost command against a side near the foot of the 10-team table. But it was to prove an illusion.

Unlike the outdoor game, in which the innings is ended when the final pair is broken, the last individual standing can continue. The fifth man out stays on as a non-scoring runner.

On this occasion the last Chief was Andrew Paddison who, after none of his team-mates managed double figures, went on to score an unbeaten 35. Finishing the innings with a six, Paddison had Murfet skipping away in delight.

From what is generally reckoned to be a losing indoor score of under 60, Paddison had taken his team to 81-5. Now the game was finely balanced.

Nomansland were soon struggling on 13-3 after Murfet took the wickets of Ben Franks and Owen Lloyd. Ryan Bowden, aged 15, the youngest player on either side, stood firm for long enough to raise doubts over the outcome. But once he was bowled by Jonny Goode for 19, the result was inevitable.

From 38-4, Nomansland added only seven more. Murfet's figures of 2-8 were the best of the game.

Nomansland, fielding three teenagers, perhaps missed the experience of 69-year-old Peter Blight, the League chairman and secretary who can still hold his own as a player. Blight was on the sidelines with a knee injury.

From under his woolly hat, Blight offered some sage thoughts on the early dismissals of Franks and Lloyd. Matches may be restricted to 12 overs a side but there is no need to blast out of the blocks.

"You have got more time than you think and there was no need to play either of those shots," said Blight.

With a lighter ball than is used outdoors, runs are scored in three ways: sixes and fours by hitting the facing wall, singles by hitting the back or side walls, with two additional runs if the batsmen cross. Each bowler is permitted a maximum four overs.

There are six points for a win, none for defeat, and a batting point for reaching 75, 100 and 125.One bowling point is earned for every two wickets taken.

A batsman must retire on 25 but may return if his team-mates are out.

"If you play outdoors and you've got three or four good players, they can dominate the match," said Blight. "Indoors we make sure that all six players can have a go."

The League has been going since the early 1970s. Over the years, Raleigh have been the most successful team but the honours have been spread around more recently.

Two years ago Newton Tracey were champions, last year it was Filleigh, and now a new name is set to join them.

Former Somerset Second XI pace bowler Ian Bond has been Kelsey Chiefs' captain and driving force but, even while he has been away on holiday, they have won their two matches.

Going into this week's round of matches, the Chiefs were 11 points clear and a win tonight over Newton Tracey would take them into their penultimate match with the incentive of perhaps clinching the title next Thursday against Hele Bay.

Murfet said: "The Hele Bay one is a bit of a grudge match because they are the local team right next to us. We've got quite a few friends who play in that team."

Friends who might just do them a favour and help their passage to the title? "No," insisted Murfet.

That just wouldn't be cricket. Even indoor cricket.