CULLOMPTON trounced Braunton by 160 runs to shoot clear at the top of the C Division East table.

Feniton, who were top before Cully defeated them seven days earlier, dropped down to third after losing at Alphington.

Clyst Hydon’s win over lowly Countess Wear took them up to second, where they trail Cully by 19 points.

The two sides meet at Cullompton this Saturday in a top-of-the-table clash and derby to boot. Could be fiery!

Cullompton racked up 341 for five at Kelsey, led by skipper James Blackmore with 129.

Blackmore was involved in stands of 96 with Darren Paul (25) and 112 with Jason Parr (44),

Getting Blackmore out didn’t slow things down Brendon Parr whacked 79 to help add 103 for the final three wickets.

Wickets were hard to come by for Braunton. Mike Brown had two for 65 and there were singles for Jon Baglow and Jon Higgs.

Baglow needs one wicket against Clyst St George this Saturday to reach 500 in Devon League matches – quite an achievement.

Bruanton were bowled out for 181 by Trevor Gwandu (4-26) with back up from the Nessling brothers – two wickets each – and Blackmore (2-13).

Baglow (21) and Brendon Harris (27) had the only scores of note in a running total of 97 for six. Alec Hodges (58) and Ed Holmes (32) got something respectable on the board.

WHIMPLE captain Ben Silk says anyone who thinks he is skippering a one-man team is wide of the mark.

Last Saturday’s four-wicket win at Kilmington lifted Whimple to fifth in the table and put 31 points between them and the relegation places.

Leigh Lorenzen’s’s five-for-30 haul helped dismiss Kilmington for 202 – and his half-century contributed to the successful run chase.

The 22-year-old Australian was in the thick of it when Whimple defeated Clyst St George the previous Saturday – four wickets and 86 not out.

There were other wickets to be taken and runs to be scored in both games, something Silk is quick to acknowledge.

“It probably sounds like a one-man team again, but it hasn't been like that,” said Silk.

“Last week Maud and Hathaway bowled superbly, making sure we had a great start with nine men around the bat.

“Kevin Thompson opened the batting with a solid start of 27.

“Against Kilmington we bowled tightly and they were 150 for 9 then got to 202.

“Great spells from Hathaway and Maud opening the bowling and matt Richards with nine overs for 30 runs.

“If opposing sides are going to try and smack Leigh out the park it's not going to work which is why he picked up five wickets.

“Our opening stand of 91 between Thompson (37) and Nathan Kidd, who looked superb for his 45, set up the platform.

“Leigh can then crack on and if he bats in a power play then nine times out of 10 he will succeed.

“Hopefully we can go on a run now and see where we are in a few weeks.”

CLYST St George are hovering above the relegation places after losing by 99 runs away to Uplyme & Lyme Regis.

Liam Gorfine top scored for Uplyme with 72 in a total of 213 all out.

Veteran Paul Laverick rolled his arm over to take three for 34 and there were two wickets for Steve Bourke (2-22) ad Mike Johnson.

Clyst reached 69 for two in reply, then lost skipper Chris Ferro for 33 and started to lose their way.

Steve Batey (5-20) tore through the mddle order and Gorfine (3-39) played a part as Clyst bowed out for 114 in the 27th of their 45 overs.

Defeat leaves Clyst eight points off the drop spots with a home game against bottom side Braunton coming up.

ALPHINGTON kept the leaders in sight with a four-wicket win over visiting Feniton.

Tom Bath had a field day with six wickets for 21 runs as Feniton were dismissed for 183. Ben Allen (40) top scored.

Matt Taylor (57) and Nick Halse (33) ensured there were no slips on the chase.

Having already beaten leaders Cullompton, the Alphas added Feniton who were second before the latest round of games.

They play Whimple this Saturday then start part two of the season against Clyst St George before the rematch with Cullompton.

CLYST Hydon skipper Ian Sutton said there was nothing to get carried away about over the 161-run win against lowly Countess Wear.

Sutton top scored with 66 opening up for Hydon in a total of 215 all out.

Clinton Lewis made 42 and Mike Cliff chipped in with 20.

Owen Smith had five wickets for 24 runs, Hydon were bowled out with more than five overs to go, which didn’t please Sutton.

The Wear were swept away by Lewis Rhodes and Kevin Sercombe, who had them all out for 50 in 15.2 overs.

Rhodes – dad John opened the bowling for Devon in his heyday – took four for 32 and Sercombe six for 17.

Sutton said although it was ‘a great result’ there is work to do to mount a challenge fopr promotion.

“Once again we didn't get as many runs as we should have done after the start we made,” said Sutton.

“That's down to players - myself included - getting in and not going on to get the big score.

Eventually it will bite us on the bum - and it's something we need to put right again against Cullompton.

“Our bowling and fielding was brilliant. Ssercs and Lewis are turning into a very good new-ball partnership.”

CLYST Hydon have signed early order batsman Mark Ashplant from Bradninch and he is poised to play against Cully on Saturday. As a former Cullompton player before leaving for Bradninch in 2014, he is sure to get a warm welcome