South Devon defeated again and Ipplepen oust Chudleigh

RELEGATED South Devon are still looking to win a game this season after they went down by 70 runs to Kingsbridge.

James Westlake opened up with 38 for Kingsbridge – he and Freddie Ford (36) put 67 on the board – which took him past 500 league runs for the season.

Flynn Taylor rapped 85 off 69 balls – 10 fours, four sixes – as Kingsbridge advanced towards 281 all out.

South Devon captain Jack Allen accounted for Taylor on his way to bowling figures of five for 46.

Taylor (3-53) had South Devon on the ropes at nine for two in the third over, Dan Yates (49) and Josh Vicary (10) showed some resolve until Carr split them up.

Two wickets for Neal Peach (2-37) and a third for Freddie Weir (2-27) reduced South Devon to 89 for six.

Yates was still there and his stand of 67 with Richard Beaumont (50no) helped South Devon to a respectable 211 all out.

ABBOTSKERSWELL lost their way on the chase against Hatherleigh 2nd XI, who made hefty 299 for nine.

It looked like one of those days for Hatherleigh when opener Cameron Rowlands got out second ball to Jay Hussain (3-44), but that wasn’t the case.

Jamie Nielson (40) played an stabilising innings, which led to Jack Probert (32) and skipper Danny Forrester (44) opening up.

The big runs – not including a whopping 42 wides – came courtesy of Henry D’alberti-Nicholson, whose 44-ball 86 included seven fours and six sixes towards the total of 299 for nine.

Alfie Harrison (3-54) vied with Hussain for Abbots’ bowling pat on the back.

Abbotskerswell were in a bit of a mess at three for four in reply in the third over. Twenty-four for four was hardly an improvement.

Charlie Hill (22), born-again batter Aron Owen (52) and skipper Toby Codd (49) got their heads down to make the best of the situation, which looked much better at 124 four six.

Codd was the last man out with 16 balls to go in Abbots’ total of 194.

Ruben Forrester (3-40) and Tom Strawbridge (2-28) had two wickets each when the ball was new. Charlie Bingham (2-28) and D’Alberti-Nicholson (2-20) got among the lower half.

IPPLEPEN skipper Sm Wakeham has one more target in his sights after completing a league and cup double with a four-wicket win over Chudleigh.

The Pens already have the Aaron Printers Narracott Cup safely stashed away having seen off Paignton 2nd XI in last month’s final.

And the win at Chudleigh ensured unbeaten Ipplepen will be promoted from the C Division West as champions.

Wakeham’s final goal is to stay unbeaten for the entire season.

“Going unbeaten would be a great achievement and one that we will be aiming for,” said Wakeham. “It's probably something we deserve as a group.

“The momentum going into next season off the back of that could be exciting…”

Relegation from the B Division last season looked inevitable a long way off as Ipplepen struggled for most of it. Wakeham feels a year at a lower level has been beneficial.

“It has been a young side over the past few years and players haven't had the chance to score runs consistently or take wickets or build pressure with the ball,” said the promotion-winning skipper.

“Losing became a bit of a habit and sometimes you need to reset and get that winning feeling back.”

Wakeham rarely bowls in his own side, but brought himself on against Chudleigh and took five for 24 to help shoot them out for 149. George Tapley (3-31) aided and abetted the demolition job.

Once Raj Neelam (35), Jonny Bubb (26) and Will Heather (22) were moved on, Chudleigh lost six for 28 on the way out.

Wakeham had an indisputable case for man-of-the-match as he top scored with 50 not out as Pens recovered from 71 for five to knock-off the runs. Tapley (41) was with him until the target got down to nine.

SEATON were given a run for their money by Ashburton before clinching the four-wicket win that keeps them in the promotion picture.

Bottom side Ashburton were bowled out for 147 with Nick Martin’s 49 the best of their knocks. Losing three wickets on 128 did not help. Kai Croft (2-0) took two of them.

James Doulton (3-37) had the edge over brother Tim (2-38) in the bowling department. Ben Morgan (2-26) offered little to go after.

Seaton soon found runs hard to come by as Chris McKee, Steve Edmonds (3-31) and Jack Warren (1-14) had them wobbling at 32 for four.

Morgan (35) restored some order to the batting while Matt Hewer dropped anchor at the other end.

Hewer, formerly of Axminster, Bovey Tracey and Sidmouth during a long career in the Devon League, batted through for 40 not out from 102 balls to win it.

Although the arithmetic says Ashburton are not relegated yet, it’s hard to see an equation working out that they survive from.

Lloyd White, the Ashburton captain, said the team’s commitment in difficult circumstances is amazing.

“Another performance where I know we gave our all, and that's all I can continue to ask,” said White.

“With a bit of luck on our side we might have got even closer. Another 30 to 40 runs and it would have been really interesting.

“Credit where it's due: Matt Hewer was calm under pressure and batted superbly.”

TEIGNMOUTH & Shaldon slipped to a six-wicket defeat away to C East promotion also rans Shobrooke Park.

In-form Seamus McKenna followed his century against Exmouth 2nd Xi with 48 more in Teignmouth & Shaldon’s 205 all out.

Among the bits and pieces were 33 extras, 29 for opener Harrison Linnitt and 20 for last man Ryan Bougourd. Neil Maud (3-16) was Shobrooke’s main wicket taker.

Shobrooke openers Henry Field (79) and Andy Steer (37) made a 117-run dent in the deficit.

Rob Ewing (31no) and Chris Simpson (33no) put on 73 un-parted to seal the win. Bougourd and Ross Jameson claimed two wickets each for T&S.