SANDFORD are resigned to a mid-table finish at best in the A Division following a four-wicket defeat by Hatherleigh at Creedy Park.

But the pressure is on to beat Barton this Saturday to avoid being dragged into the relegation scrap.

Sandford may be halfway up the table of 10 but are only 18 points ahead of Barton in the second drop spot.

A defeat at Cricketfield Road could make life uncomfortable for Sandford, who finish with fading promotion chasers Lewdown then relegated Ipplepen.

Sandford were all out for 163 in the 49th of their 50 overs – opener Richard Foan making 55.

Hatherleigh chased the runs down with more than three overs to spare, motivated by their need for a win to get out of relegation danger. It worked as they moved ahead of Barton by nine points.

Hatherleigh (163pts) have a toughie against champs in waiting Bradninch this Saturday. They will want to preserve as much of thier nine-point lead over Barton as they can.

On Hatherleigh’ survival prospects, skipper Mark Lake said: “We've given ourselves a chance.

“There are still a few teams who are involved in trying to stay up.

“I think if we can get to 195 points that would stand a real chance of staying up.”

Sandford started brightly with former Devon batters Foan and Adrian Small putting on 105.

Losing five wickets for 20 runs put a different hue on the game as Matt Thomas (3-13) and Mark Lake (2-26) cut through the middle order.

Matt Hopkins, who went in when Small was caught and bowled by Lake, batted through to the end for an unbeaten 30.

Tom Gidney with 10 had the only other double-figure score.

Hatherleigh took time getting into their stride and at 65 for four with Thomas just out for 41 the game was in the balance. Matt Theedom had picked up a couple of wickets.

The key stand for Hatherleigh was one of 71 between Gareth Tidball (45) and Jack Cherrington (32no) which got the target down to 26.

Pete Steer had Tidball lbw in his second spell, but Cherrington took his time and Sandford ran out of ideas before the end.