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JUNE 16 2007

ALPHINGTON were knocked off the top of the B Division when they lost by seven wickets away to new leaders Brixham.

   The Alphas were restricted to 175 for nine in their 46 overs – Paul James top scoring on 51 – but lacked the bowling firepower to stop Brixham knocking off the runs with time to spare.

   Losing Aussie all-rounder Steve Bowen following a minor operation did Alphington no favours and he can't come back soon enough for skipper Graham White.

   Former Devon and England Board XI batsman Andy Pugh smashed an unbeaten 89 to see Brixham home with more than eight overs to spare.

   The game started badly for Alphington when they were put in and lost opener Simon Cake in the first over. Two for two wasn't much of an improvement, although Alphington did perk up while White and Ian McDonald put on 30 for the third wicket.

   Mark Orchard (3-42) removed White which left James and McDonald (28) to push the score up to 66 for four.

   Richard Coe and James added 45 for the fifth wicket and James kept going until he was out with the score on 150.

   Wickets fell in the later overs with Joe Hyde coming back to take three for 42 and Aqeel Ahmed spinning out a couple more.

   James Fletcher (22) and John Lamswood (22) got Brixham up and running by making 32 without loss, then Pugh took over to speed the chase to a conclusion early in the 38 th over.

   Victory puts Brixham top on 108 points and drops Alphington down to second on 100. Then there is a 16-point gap down to Barnstaple in third place.

   Barnstaple & Pilton went all the way to Clyst St George to get in 19 overs of   batting time before their game was called of with the score on 70 for one.

   Axminster captain Danny Larcombe felt Saturday's rained-off game against lowly Bideford was a lost opportunity to gain ground on the leading pack of clubs.

   Bideford skipper James Ford had hammered a century in his side's 207 for nine, which Axminster were 110 for four in reply to when it rained with 14 overs to go.

   The asking rate was up around seven an over to win at the time, but Larcombe felt it was gettable.

   “Mark Richards knows how to get on with it – and we still had him to go in,” said Larcombe. “Joel Seaward doesn't hang about either and he has just gone in when we came off.

   “We might not have got the runs, but it was a big disappointment not to be able to have a go.”

   Ford, who must feel as if he has been carrying Bideford single handed at times this season, opened up and was ninth man out at 196 for 115. He hit 15 fours and five sixes during a 148-ball stay.

   Steve Hughes (22) and Alex Hodges (2) were the only other scorers of note, sharing in stands of 47 and 79 respectively with their captain.

   Richards had four wickets without conceding a run five overs into his spell and finished with four for 22. Gary Larcombe was three for 26 off nine.

   Gary Larcombe (33) and Rob Prior (32) were the best of the in-and-out Axminster batsmen when the rain came.

   THE derby clash between Plymstock and Plymouth Civil Service was just getting interesting when play was abandoned due to rain.

   Openers Denzil Addicott (54) and Nick Langridge (11) gave Plymstock a 61-run start which was derailed by Dave Bayliss taking five for 27 and Tom Cross three for 27.

   Andy Hawker, who had two for 56, was clouted for four sixes by Addicott, who top scored for Plymstock in their total of 149 all out.

   Civil were in trouble almost from the start as they slumped to 11 for three in reply with Addicott (2-33) and Graham Jackson doing the damage.

   Mark Lockyer (48) and Neil Martin (21) started the Civil fightback by making 67 for the fourth wicket and Bayliss was on 27 when rain stopped play at 116 for six.