MATT Heather stroked an unbeaten 105 as Chudleigh routed Ipplepen by seven wickets to keep the bottom two a safe distance away.

Ipplepen recovered from being 33 for three to make 199 all out – Joe Abbott leading the fightback with 54.

Abbott put on 61 with Jack Lewis (35) and 40 with Seb Powell (18). When Heather (2-51) trapped Abbott lbw, Jack Wylie (31) kept the board ticking over.

Matt Ball (2-36) and Rob Clarke (3-22) took the bowling honours for Chudleigh, supported by Mark Heather with one for 21 from 10 overs.

Chudleigh lost opener Mark Solway in the first over and skipper Ed Foreman not long after.

Heather and Shaun Newland battered the bowling for 128 in 25 overs and by the time Steve Bowden bowled Sinclair Chudleigh were well in their way.

Victory keeps Chudleigh 22 points clear of the second relegation place, currently filled by Hatherleigh after their defeat at Paignton.

With a run in of leaders Bradninch, lowly Plympton, second-placed Paignton and Barton, who are not out of it yet, Chudleigh still have some work to do.

“I t was a strong win for us, even if we were little below par,” said Chudleigh captain Ed Foreman.

Having Ipplepen 33 for three it was disappointing to let them get 199, even if it was a good pitch and 260 was probably par.

“We chased very well and never really looked in doubt.  

“We now start of tough run of games now and need to be more clinical to pick up the points we need to survive.”

Bottom side Ipplepen, still without a win, aren’t down yet, but are 79 points adrift with 80 to play for and what they have expected for a while should be a reality after Saturday’s game with Plympton.

No team has been relegated from the A Division without a win since draws were abolished three years ago.

Barton were winless in 2011 under the old format, as were Tavistock (2010) Alphington (2008) and United Services in 1999, the first year of an 18-game season instead of 22.