RYAN Bowden top scored with 93 to help Filleigh to a 35-run win over Alphington in the Tolchards Devon League C Division play-off game.

The clash between the runners-up in East and West was finally played a week late at Clyst Hydon after the first attempt at Kingsbridge fell foul of the weather.

Bowden was the anchorman for Filleigh as they made 259 all out. He put on 87 for the second wicket with McAuley Harrison-Hooton (34) and 54 with skipper Simon Prideaux (33).

Pick of the bowlers with five for 67 was Alphington captain Stuart Shaw.

Alphington were in nine-an-over territory at 161 for six - and with Mark Halse still batting in with a chance.

Only when Halse fell with six overs to go for 10 could Filleigh feel confident of winning.

Alphington needed 37 to win off the last over, but by then the game had got away.

Skipper Prideaux said it was a proud day for the club – if an unexpected one.

“Next season we will be playing our highest level of cricket, quite an achievement for a small club like ours,” said Prideaux.

“Just getting to the play-offs was an achievement, never mind winning.

“Halfway through the season we had only won two games and were second from bottom in the C Division.

“We didn’t lose another game and were unbeaten in 10 after winning the play-off.”

Filleigh 259 (R Bowden 93, M Harrison-Hooton 34, S Prideaux 33, J Campbell 23; S Shaw 5-67, A Green 2-36, P James 2-41), Alphington 224-9 (M Halse 102, L Phillips 20; J Hickman 2-44, K Jerratt 2-33, J Campbell 2-36). Filleigh beat Alphington by 35 runs.