SKIPPER Elliot Staddon said Cornwood’s Premier Division survival is effectively out their control after the 64-run defeat at North Devon.

South African Kyle Verreynne top scored with 119 not out in North Devon’s hefty total of 286 for four.

Cornwood’s Jackson Thompson made 71 off 64 balls as the visitors set about the chase, but after he was third out at 118 keeping up with the asking rate became an issue.

Spinners Stef James (4-55) and Dan Bowser (4-32) turned the screw as Cornwood dipped to 222 all out.

Defeat leaves Cornwood six points shy of safety with one game to go, which is against visiting Torquay this Saturday.

The odds may be stacked against Cornwood now, but Staddon isn’t about to run up the white flag.

“All we can do is aim to pick up maximum points this Saturday and see what happens with Brixham and Plymouth,” said Staddon.

“It's certainly going to the wire.”

Staddon said Cornwood didn’t help themselves at times against North Devon, but overall he had few complaints.

“It was a tough game that could have gone either way at some points, but I couldn't ask for any more effort from the lads in what was a tough day,” said Staddon.

“North Devon batted well but we did miss some chances early on with catches and run-outs,

“We started our second innings well and at 105 for nine we were more than in it.

“The North Devon spinners started to get more of a grip on the game and made it difficult to score.

“Having to keep up with the run rate we lost wickets quickly,”

Bowser (55) and Tom Ansell (22) got North Devon off to a 55-run start.

Ansell and Max Curtis both fell to Andy Bees (2-43), which brought Verreynne in at 79 for two

The backbone of the innings was a stand of 179 for the fourth wicket between home skipper Huxtable – 64 off 71 balls – and Verreynne.

Verreynne only faced 97 alls for his 119 and hit 15 boundaries.

Matt Butterworth (38) and Thompson got Cornwood going, only for three wickets to go getting from 105 to 118.

Matt Skeemer (32) and Steve Lambert (37) kept the chase going by putting on 46. Only after Skeemer fell to Jack Gibbs did the Corns start to decline.

The last five wickets went for just 16 runs as Cornwood crumbled.