CHUDLEIGH earned the win they needed to stave off the threat of relegation from the C Division East when they won at Kingsbridge by 40 runs.

Chudleigh recovered from a nervy start – they were 31 for three – to post a 45-over total of 230 for six.

Rob Clarke (42) and Will Heather (72) primed the recovery with a stand of 89. Raj Neelam (42no) and Bradley Sercombe (21) added 667 more for the sixth wicket.

Connor Rothwell (2-30) was Town’s only multiple-wicket taker. Veteran Neal Peach bowled nine overs at a cost of just 19 runs.

Kingsbridge opener James Westlake passed 650 league runs for the season with a top score of 75 in a reply of 190 for seven. He is averaging a fraction over 55.

Skipper James Fletcher (51) need just 13 more runs to reach 600 after making his third half-century of the summer. Ricky Carr brought up the rear with 24.

Heather staked his regular claim for Chudleigh’s man-of-the-match with two wickets for 17 runs from nine overs. Clarke (2-43) was the only other multiple-wicket taker.

A point ahead of Chudleigh are Ipplepen 2nd XI, who suffered a four-wicket defeat at the hands of potentially relegated Paignton 2nd XI.

Pens batting had a collective off-day with a pair of 21s from Freddie Harvey and Matt Quartley as good as it got in a total of 128 all out. Extras added another 37 runs.

Best of the bowling for Paignton was the five-for-33 bag claimed by Jacob Lander. Shresth Bhardwaj (3-17) flushed-out the lingerers.

Paignton made an unimpressive start ­– they were 34 for five after a going over from Jack Edworthy (4-33) ­­ but were rescued by former 1st XI captain Mark Orchard with a knock of 44 not out.

Sam Kirkup (22) and Ella Gill (17no) kept Orchard company as the deficit was whittled away.

Although Paignton are in the second relegation spot, there is a chain of events that could spare them relegation.

League rules don’t allow two teams from the same club to play in the same division – and if Ipplepen 1st XI are relegated from the B Division, the obvious knock-on is that their 2nd XI cannot stay in the C West.

If Ipplepen 2nd XI are forcibly relegated to accommodate the arrival of their 1st XI, Paignton could be reprieved.

League officials are reluctant to discuss ifs, buts and maybes before the season ends.

“It will be a matter for the executive committee,” said a league spokesman.