IPPLEPEN charge on at the top of the B Division thanks to a 37-run victory over Barton.
Pens made 175 for nine in their 45 overs – Mawgan Penrice hitting a top score of 42.
Barton struggled at the start against Will Gornall – they were nine for four – then recovered to 75 for five.
Adam Parker (45) and Nathan Beech (30) staged something of a recovery but Barton were behind the clock and Gornall returned to take two more wickets for a six-scalp haul in a total of 138 all out.
Pens are now the only unbeaten team left in the B Division after Shobrooke Park’s defeat at Bideford, who are now second themselves.
After Adam Peters (24) and Dave Harris (14) got Pens away to a 46-run start, Penrice played the middle-order anchorman.
By the time Penrice was spun out by Stuart Bowker, easily the pick of the Barton bowlers with four for 31, Pens were 132 for five.
There were only bits and pieces after that, none better than Paul Thomas’ 12.
Gornall, who took six for 31, had Barton on the ropes single handed at nine for four.
Parker and Greg Shelton put on 66 then Beech got what he could out of the bottom half of the order.
Once the returning Gornall tapped Matt Lipton lbw for 13, it was just a question of time, Beech was last man out having lasted 65 balls.
It’s Seaton at home next for Ipplepen, who are 12 points clear at the top of the table.
Barton will be looking for a bounceback win at home to Abbotskerswell.
Although it looked clear cut in the scorebook, Pens’ skipper Sam Wakeham feels the batting needs to improve in future games.
“Having set a decent platform we failed to capitalise in the later stages and lost six wickets very cheaply,” said Wakeham.
“At least one of the top six needs to go on and make a big score, but that didn’t happen.
“Paul Thomas and Keith Wakeham batted well to see us to 175.”
The bowling was a different story as far as Wakeham was concerned.
“We knew we had to strike early – and four wickets in the first three overs for Will Gornall did just that,” said Wakeham.
“Barton had a couple of partnerships but sticking to our game plan we broke them at key times and remain unbeaten.”
