CHAGFORD defeated Hatherleigh 2nd XI by one wicket in an absorbing top-of-the-table clash in the D Division West.

Chagford were asked to improve on Hatherleigh’s total of 179 for nine and got there with last pair Chris Jelley and Martin Herrington out in the middle.

Defeat cost Hatherleigh the divisional leadership, which they had pinched off Chagford seven days earlier despite losing to Ivybridge. Chagford lost by a greater margin to Barton 2nd XI.

Not for the first time this season Hatherleigh’s top scorer was skipper Danny Forrester, who went in at 82 for six and went on to make 35. Niall Leahy made 28 at the top of the order and Jack Probert hung around to make 32.

Richard Hopwood, the Chagford all-rounder who was absent when they lost to Barton, topped the bowling stats with four for 43.

Hopwood’s importance to Chagford was emphasised by a top score of 71 during the run chase. He opened and got as far as 100 for four.

Jelley, a former Hatherleigh player, went in at 114 for five and nursed the bottom half of the order over the line. The key partnership was one of 37 for the ninth wicket between Jelley (38no) and Jack Brijnath (19) that levelled the scores.

Luke Westacott (4-26) played havoc with Chagford’s middle order. And there were two wickets for Cameron Rowlands.

KENN defeated Ivybridge 2nd XI by two wickets in a low-scoring affair at Filham Park.

The Bridge were all out for 124 with Simon Kidd (26) booking the best of a sorry set of scores. No one else got past 18.

Best of the bowling came from Alfie Mason (2-25) and Pete Chislett (3-26). Three runouts did not help Ivybridge’s cause.

Ben Challoner, recalled to the 1st XI after making a double ton in the second team last time out, got Kenn to 69 for three virtually on his own. He made 54.

The rest of the chase was a tense business with no partnership reaching 30. Four wickets fell getting from 98 to 112 as the suspense increased. Adrian Pullin (3-29) and Toby Borrow (2-26) kept Kenn’s batters on their toes.

Bits and pieces got Kenn home in the hand. Alfie Mason (15) and James Gosling (16) played parts.