GOING up! Plymstock clinched promotion back to the A Division after a three-year absence when they defeated Ivybridge by four-wickets in the top-of-the-table clash at Dean Cross.

Ivybridge were top of the shop going into the game with Plymstock and Bideford behind them

Plymstock are the leaders now on 255 points with Ivybridge (251) in second and Bideford (237) back in third.

If Plymstock win at Ottery this Saturday they are up as champions.

Ivybridge have to beat Bideford at Fillham to be sure of going up themselves.

Man of the moment for Plymstock was opening bowler Rob Cunningham, who performed the hat-trick to decimate the Ivybridge middle order.

Bronte Bess (3-34) had already accounted for openers Andy Johnson and Abraham Kopparambil before Cunningham (3-18) got to work

Bridge skipper Kelvin Trent, Jeewan de Silva and Adam Huxtable all went lbw in successive balls as the visitors slumped to 22 for five.

Andy when  Bess bowled Harry Solomon, it was 32 for six.

Chris Greenhouse ground out 36 in 84 minutes. His stand of 25 with tail-ender Josh Coker was the best of the innings, which terminated at 86 all out.

Plymstock had a task getting the runs wiped out and were glad of key knocks from Jack Horton (25) and Seb Jordan (35) for getting over the line. They were in wobbly territory for a while at 43 for four and 54 for five.

Solomon, de Silva and Jamie Bullock had two wickets each for the Bridge.

Winning captain Scott Mansfield knew which backs to pat first after the game.

“The boys did Plymstock proud and the star of the show was Robbie Cunningham,” said Mansfield.

“His hard work is really showing through in recent weeks and his hat trick of Trent, de Silva and Huxtable was massive.

“Robbie set the standard with his spell and all the bowlers followed suit.

“The chase didn't go quite to plan with wickets falling to poor shot selection and good bowling.

“Seb Jordan showed how valuable his batting has become.

“With promotion now confirmed, the chance of being crowned champions is on offer so I'm sure the guys will be up for the last game.”