D DIVISION

LEADERS Bridestowe make the long journey from North Devon across to East Devon for a meeting with sixth-placed Uplyme and they found their hosts a tough nut to crack, having to settle for ten points from a losing draw.

   Home skipper Ashley Caddy and Jerry Sims both hit 34 and Bruce Maltby chipped in with 29 in a total of 190. Then Caddy bagged a brace of wickets in support of Phil Norris (3-45) as the North Devon sides reply closed on 170-8.

   Bridestowe retain top spot, but by just a couple of points from a Dartington & Totnes side who once again saw some fine performances from the Stevenson brothers.

   Scott Stevenson hit 107 as the main contribution to a team total of 253 at Hatherleigh. There were three wickets each for Houston Engel, Simon Gillespie and Mark Brock

   Ryan Stevenson then claimed five for 28, and his centurion brother also bagged a brace, but the home side managed to scrape the losing draw on 151 for eight, Andy Bennett top scoring with 42. Veteran Richard Tidball was the best of the rest with 32.

   Hatherleigh are third, with Thorverton down to fourth after they lost for the third time this term beaten by eight wickets by Dawlish & Teignmouth.

   Dawlish & Teignmouth had started the weekend as the cellar dwellers in the section, but delivered the goods to see of high-flying Thorverton

   An excellent all round performance by Gary Chatham did for the Thors. Chatham took 6-25 and there were two wickets for Richard Fisher as the mid-Devon visitors were bowled out for 163. Kobi Griggs top scored with a half century.

   Home skipper Paul Horne (60no) and Chatham (86) put on 142 for the opening wicket. Chatham smacked seven sixes and Horne helped himself to three as the home side strolled home.

   Both wickets to fall went to Andrew Barton who had earlier enjoyed a cameo knock of 20 runs.

   Two of the bottom four met at Ipplepen where Lewdown where the opposition and who were in some trouble at 125 for eight when the heavens opened and washed put any further play.

   Steve Bowden (4-24) and Sam de Frend (2-21) had been the main men responsible for the visitors' pre-rain struggle.

   The East Devon derby at Whimple, where Ottery St Mary were the visitors, produced a thrilling contest that was in doubt right up until the final over with the home side taking the wining draw.

   Whimple were put in and bowled out in 45.2 overs by Robert Bradshaw-Smith (4-16) and Brian Burns (4-41).

   Wicket keeper Kevin Thompson, batting at number two for the hosts, top scored with 68, there were 26 extras. Skipper Simon Van Grudgings chipped in with 22.

   The Otters replied with 163 for nine at the close, Bradshaw-Smith completing a fine all-round effort with 39, Sam Tennent hit 27.

   A superb spell of bowling from Phil Hope who bowled his thirteen overs straight through and returned figures of 4-29, left the reply just a single lusty blow short of tie at the close of play.