Ben Kidson, who was among the wickets for Honiton

SKIPPER Steve Moore took the first hat-trick of his career to help Barnstaple & Pilton beat Tiverton by nine wickets in the D Division East.

Moore has been around a while – he started playing as a 14 year old with the now defunct Raleigh club in the late 1970s – and has taken a lot of wickets since.

He played Premier cricket for Braunton in the 80s and 90s and made a handful of appearances for Devon in the Minor Counties Championship in his prime

Hat-trick - Steve MooreWhat Moore hadn’t done before Saturday was perform the hat-trick.

“It was my first one ever,” said the 52-year-old spinner.

A caught, a bowled and an lbw made-up Moore’s hat-trick, put the skids under Bickleigh.

Dan Reed had made 59 in a running total of 112 for six. After Moore’s intervention, and a wicket for Jason Smith, Tiverton were all out for 119.

Knocking off the runs was a cakewalk for B&P, who were home and dry with nearly 20 overs to go.

George McEndoo (31no) and Jamie Tapp (44) gave Barum a 62-run start, leaving Jack Moore (31no) to knock off the rest with McEndoo.

Dave Haysom hit the ground running for Honiton with a top score of 48 in their 83-run win over Axminster.

Haysom, newly signed from Alphington, and Mike Docherty (43) were the main run getters in a Honiton total of 209 for six. Alex Wraight (3-30) took the bowling honours.

Axminster were bowled out for 126 in reply – Sam Dibling making 36. Ben Kidson and Adam Holmes had three wickets each.

Honiton are back at Mountbatten Park this Saturday for the visit Kentisbeare, who opened up with a one-wicket win over Chardstock after chasing down 166 to win;.

Paul Tatterton (43) and David Armstong (25) laid the foundations for Kentisbeare, but it was tail-enders Neil Farley (15no) and Mike Cooke (17no) who got them over the line.

Upottery defeated Halberton by just one run in a game that went down to the last ball.

Andy Pulman (77) and Joe Jones (53) hit the runs in Upottrey’s 226 for eight.

Skipper Richie Durrant made 97 not out for Halberton. He put on 127  with Joe Parkinson for the third wicket – but the side finished short on 225 for four.

Topsham St James will be gunning for a second league win of the season on Saturday when they visit Halberton after beating Woodbury & Newton SC by 42 runs.

Mark Phillips top scored with 79 and shared a partnership of 87 for the fourth wicket with Ross Treleaven (40) in Saints; total of 178 for seven.

Nalin Chouhan (2-20) was pick of the bowlers.

Woodbury were given a start by Joe Banks – he made 40 of the first 66 on the board – then slewed from 66 for two to 79 for five.

Leighton Dayman (26) and Chouhan (20) restored some order, but once Dayman went the last five wickets went for 15 runs in a total of 136 all out.

Treleaven took four for 39 and Matt Williams three for 26 to wrap things up.