ALPHINGTON’S hopes of winning promotion as C Division champions suffered a setback when they lost by nine wickets at Abbotskerswell.

It has been a two-horse race for a while at the top of the table with Alphington ahead of Abbotskerswell by a nose.

Not any more. Alphas were dismissed for 141 at Two Mike Oak, which Abbots knocked off inside 29 overs to claim all 20 points.

Mark Halse made 58 against one of his former clubs, but no one else reached 20 in Alphas total of 141 all out.

Connor Adams and Riccardo Small-Boyce took three wickets each and there were two for Noah Tobias.

Charlie Mitchell (81) and Brett Williams (40no) put on 124 for the first wicket, leaving Alex Birt (11no) wrap things up.

When the dust had settled Abbots were four points ahead of Alphington at the top of the table with a game to go.

Only the champions go up automatically; the runners-up have to contest a play-off with their East counterparts. The short list is Filleigh, Kilmington or Cullompton.

If Abbots win at Stoke Gabriel this Saturday they are up as champions – irrespective of what Alphington do at home to Kingsbridge.

For Alphington skipper Stuart Shaw the defeat at Abbotskerswell fell into the double doom and gloom category.

“It was disappointing to lose and disappointing we didn’t perform the way we have for most of the season, but we need to move on quickly and concentrate on Kingsbridge,” said Shaw.

“We know Kingsbridge will be more tough opposition and we need to be at our best to get the right result even if we win it is now out of our hands to win the division.

“This season has been good for lots of reasons and whatever happens this weekend we must build as a club and look forward to the future “

Winning captain Charlie Hill said: “It is nice to be in control of what happens, rather than relying on other results.

“We know Stoke are a strong side and it won’t be easy, nut we are looking forward to the challenge.”

Shaw said Abbots could do a lot worse than take a leaf out of Abbotskerswell’s book.

“You have to admire Abbots and the way they have developed their young players to make them the side they are at present,” said Shaw.

“I would say the average age must be 21, after they played us at our ground the first time you could see they are strong through the team.

While Shaw knows his side have everything to do, he also knows Abbots won’t get an easy time against third-placed Stoke Gabriel.

“Our game against Stoke showed they have some quality batsman who, on their day, can take a game away from you,” said Shaw.

Shaw was no doubt thinking of Nathan Hicks, Seb Ansley and Jack Tolley who have scored 993, 502 and 422 league runs respectively.

Stoke won a high-scoring game at Whitchurch by five runs after piling up 255 all out.

Seb Ansley made 108 and Jack Tolley 50. Nathan Hicks still needs seven runs to reach 1,000 for the season after he was bowled for a duck.

Billy Barriball clattered 122 for Whithuch, who were all out for 250.

Tolley and Seb Ansley had three wickets each.

Hicks will hope to get the missing runs this Saturday.

Kingsbridge beat Babbacombe by one wicket with an over to spare at the Butts.

Billy Alcock (30) and Chris Mabbutt (37) were the main run getters for Babbacombe in their total of 165 all out. James Rosewarne and Bhanu de Silva took three wickets each.

Freddie Ford’s 48 was crucial for Kings, who ran into trouble against Steve Broad (3-27) mid-chase.

Chelston & Kingskerswell had one of their best days of the summer with the bat against Plymouth CS&R – and still lost!

Gary Brenton and Lachlan Willaton both made half centuries in C&K’s total of 241 for four, which the visitors knocked off for two men out.

Bridestowe ensured their C West safety with a game to go by beating Chagford for the second time this season.

Visiting captain Del Lammonby won the toss and batted and Chagford got off to a solid start, thanks mainly to Kenton Vos.

Tom Fogerty (3-23) got the breakthrough with the score on 18 and wickets fell at regular intervals through the innings.

Ryan Dennis bowled an accurate spell with some well disguised variations and deserved his impressive figures (4-21).

Tom Fogerty returned to remove Vos for an excellent 77, but Del Lammonby (26no) swung a few to the boundary before he ran out of partners with the score on 167.

Bridestowe lost Tom Fogerty with the score on 34 and James Ewen on 56 but Bridestowe remained above the required rate.

Gary Sizmur and Jack Hatton were moving the score along nicely before a suicidal call saw the latter run out.

Sizmur continued to bat sensibly with Ryan Dennis but the required run rate began to climb towards a run a ball.

Nigel Leatheren (2-29) removed Dennis for 23 and Sizmur for a composed 76 to give Chagford a chance.

A couple of boundaries from Mark Butler (12no) off Lammonby saw Bridestowe home with 4 wickets and 2 overs to spare.