Shaldon captain Mark Couch

SHALDON Optimists pulled further away from the chasers at the top of the D Division West thanks to 200-run win over Newton St Cyres.

Ryan Bougourd was the only batsman not to make a double-figure score in Shaldon’s impressive total of 302 all out.

A stand of 75 between Kevin Haycock (39) and Dan Woolnough (16) plus generous extras got Shaldon up to 127 for three – and that was just the start of it.

Carl Woolnough (37) and Mark Couch (37) kept the runs coming, Couch and son Josh (31) putting on 76 for the eighth wicket.

Jack Withers (4-59) and Andy Cork (3-30) were the leading South Brent bowlers.

Bougourd atoned for his second-ball dismissal with three for 28 and Mark Couch had three for 11 as St Cyres were bundled out for 102.

There were more extras – 32 – than runs off the bat.

The Optimists are 17 points clear of Ashburton and 21 up on Yelverton with three games to go.

YELVERTON Bohemians reduced the gap to the promotion places to only four points with a 100-run win over fellow promotion contenders Ashburton.

Yelverton took a cautious approach to the first half of their innings, reaching drinks at 67-2.

With Pete Lojszczyk coming in at five, joining skipper Richard West (26), Yelverton accelerated, with the final 20 overs going for 148, Lojszczyk accounting for an unbeaten 62, and aided by Rob Grove (25), Anis Zubair (10) and Geoff Brain (27).  In the process, Lojszczyk has passed 500 runs for the season.

Ashburton, chasing 217 to win, got off to a poor start, with Lojszczyk (1-21) breaking through in the third over.

In the 11th over, Ashburton took on the sharp fielding of Dan Cooper, and quick glove work from the returning Zubair resulted in Tony Lacey being run out.

The next four wickets fell quickly, with spinners West (3-14) and Dan Farnham (2-13) reducing Ashburton to 41 for six.

Ashburton dug in, attempting to play for batting points, with Russ Lacey (27) and Dom Durman (130 resisting.

Yelverton’s spinners kept wheeling away though and had Ashes all out for 116 in the 43rd over.

It was a third successive defeat for Ashburton, who have seen Shaldon go past them into top spot and Yelverton catch right up.

Lloyd White, standing in as skipper for Ashley Berry, insisted Ashburton can turn it round in time to get promoted.

“Unfortunately, for the last couple of weeks we haven’t quite been at the races in terms of our batting,” said White.

“We seem to lose key wickets at regular intervals and when you do that for a couple of weeks running, it’s always hard to win games of cricket.

“We were thoroughly outplayed at the weekend, credit where credit is due but our rivals mustn’t forget, it is still in our hands.

“The manner of the loss this weekend has only given us more determination to ensure promotion.

“We now control how our season pans out, and as a club, we are thoroughly determined to ensure we are on the right end of the result for the last three games.”

Ashburton’s run in is South Brent, Exwick and Stokeinteignhead – all bottom half sides.

KENN’S winning streak continued when they defeated South Brent by 109 runs to make it four in a row.

Pat Boot made 50 at the top of the order and Falk Koeller hit 44 to get the innings going.

Martin Swannell clattered 83 and skipper James Mason 73 towards the final total of 310 for eight.

South Brent lost early wickets to Ollie Thomas (2-44) and Mason (4-15), but recovered through Dave Lewis (84).

Wickets tumbled a second time to Mason and Thomas before Richard Saunter (22) and Adam Cook (30) put up a rearguard action.

James Gosling (2-29) killed off South Brent, who were bowled out for 201.

It was just the result Kenn wanted ahead of this Saturday’s home game against leaders Shaldon Optimists.

ROSS Treleaven was man of the match for Topsham St James in their 155-run victory over Buckand Monachorum.

Treleaven made 68 off 85 balls in a stand of 128 with Dan Armstrong as St James made 249 for six.

Armstrong was lbw for 99 to Mike Pike (2-47) with a couple of overs to go.

Dan Rogers 0 two for 15 off nine –was the leading Buckland bowler.

Joe McShane (3-16) got into the top order as Buckland struggle to 48 or four.

Adam Talbott hung around to make 40, but Ed Baxter (2-11) accounted for him the Treleaven (4-13) skittled the tail enders.

STOKEINTEIGNHEAD came a cropper against Exwick, who bowled them out for 138 and won by eight wickets with 27 overs to spare.

Stoke slumped from 69 for three to 88 for seven after losing Chris Prestt (22) and Sreejith Sankaranarayanan (20) – and were glad of Tom WIlisWills' 35 for getting 138 on the board.

Lewis Cox and super veteran Rehann Caryl with three wickets each were the damage doers for Exwick.

Exwick went off like an express train with Vic Murphy (67) and Ray Gunsell (43) putting on 91 after the early loss of Kris Kalderhead.

By the time Murphy was caught and bowled by Alan Bauer, there was nothing left to play for.

Stoke will try to bounce back against Yelverton this Saturday.