ASHBURTON lost ground behind leaders Babbacombe when they suffered a 37-run defeat in the derby date with Dartington & Totnes.
Opener Elliott Miller top scored for Darts with 57 in a 45-over total of 193 for nine.
Miller shared a stand of 99 with Matt Hickey, who compiled a patient 40. No one else made more than skipper Harold Stevenson (17).
Ashburton gave away a whopping 44 in extras – 32 of which were wides.
When they did bowl straight Dom Durman took five for 23 from nine overs and Will Coon had three for 35.
Ashes opener Lloyd White set the chase in motion with 39 – eight fours in there – but at 59 for four it was D&T who were on top. Hickey (3-19) posed problems early on.
Skipper Ashley Berry got his head down to make 52 not out and while Martin Causey (20) was with him a stand of 74 for the fifth wicket was compiled.
Once Causey went the wheel on the wagon careered into the nearest ditch.
Ashes lost their last five wickets for 16 runs on the way to 156 all out.
Bertus Loots (3-23) and Harry Baxendale (3-31) were the bowlers who put Ashburton on the slide.
Ashburton are under more pressure this Saturday as they face Bridestowe, who can snatch second place from them if they win.
Skipper Berry reflected: "A frustrating day as we gifted them 35+ runs in sundries which made a difference.
"Credit to Harold and Darts though, as they bowled well as a unit.
"We'll go away and work on our areas of opportunity and will be ready for a good game against Bridestowe."
BABBACOMBE predictably came out on top when bottom side Plymouth Civil Service & Roborough visited Walls Hill.
The long-time D West leaders made 268 for four in their 45 overs – opener Jacob Hand leading the way with 109.
Hand, who was fourth man out, put on 78 with veteran Mike Pugh (19), 70 with Andy Kingdon (23) and 50 with Steve Broad.
Broad (40) and Matt Inch (31) were the not out batters when the overs ran out.
Civil were all out for 92 before the 29th over was fully bowled.
Dan Winsor made 16, Adrian Vickery and Matt Trevorrow had 11 each and none of the rest made more than six.
Tim Goodwin dominated the Babbacombe bowling figures with a six-for-21 return. Sam Powell bagged a brace.
Babbacombe are now 30 points ahead of Ashburton at the top of the table. They visit Kingsbridge this Saturday.
KINGSBRIDGE went down by two wickets to visiting Chagford in game interrupted by bad weather,
Will Dorey made 36 for Kingsbridge in their tally of 183 all out.
After James Ford came and went for 23 at the top, Dorey rescued Kingsbridge from 69 for five. James Rosewarne chipped in with 22 not out.
The wickets were shared in ones and twos. Best bowling came from Del Lammonby (2-15) and Jake Griffiths (2-24).
Chagford were tasked with making 172 to win in 42 overs and got there with time to spare – eventually.
The visitors were cruising at 81 for one, wobbling at 94 for four and struggling at 111 for six with J P Van Rensburg back in the pavilion for 39.
The problems were posed by Bhanu de Silva (3-23) and youngster Freddie Ford (2-38).
Callum Worth (25) and Lammonby (28no) got Chagford back on track with a stand of 43 that took them in sight of victory. Ollie Robinson’s two for six for Kingsbridge came too late
STOKE Gabriel’s winning run continued with a 62-run victory over Shaldon that lifts them 13 points clear of the relegation places.
Dan Pandolfo slammed 15 fours and four sixes on his way to 126 off 127 balls in the Villagers’ total of 299 for eight.
There was support from Dan Bullock (22), Ryan Shepherd (20), and Issac Withington (49) before Pandolfo fell to Ross Aitchison (6-38) at 263 for four.
Shaldon got as far as 237 for nine in their 45 overs, Steve Arkell (59) anchoring the innings from 37 for one to 202 for five.
Cark Woolnough got on with it – he had 56 off 43 balls mostly in fours and sixes – but Shaldon lacked on more big score that may have swung it their way.
Withington was the pick of the wicket takers with four for 43. Andy Ball’s one for 28 off nine deserves a mention.
Shaldon have a basement battle with South Devon this Saturday which both need to win to avoid getting stuck with Plymouth CS&R in the drop spots.
SOUTH Devon were rained off at Bridestowe where they were 96 for two after 18 overs.
James Allen had 25, Dinesh Raheja 35 not out and Ali Wight 26 mostly in fours (6) when the game was called off.
Both wickets fell to Chris Lavis (2-26).
