LONG-time leaders Hatherleigh are off the top of the A Division after losing by eight wickets to Sandford.

Hatherleigh were bowled out for 55 against Budleigh – opener Mattie Thomas (27) making the only double-figure score. Next best were a couple of eights!

Somerset one-day specialist Max Waller spun his way to three for 20 from 10 overs and there were two wickets each for Matt Junk and James Leat.

Hatherleigh had a first-ball breakthrough when opener Junk was dismissed by Sean Letheren, but that was as good as it got.

Trevor Anning (17) and Waller (39) took the tally to 47 for two and that was effectively game over.

Budleigh got the runs before the seventh over was completed – just as well for them as the heavens opened soon afterwards.

Mark Lake, the Hatherleigh captain, said losing the toss on a damp day to start with didn’t  help but wasn’t the only reason for the defeat.

“Losing the toss didn’t help but Waller bowled well and they were better than us,” said Lake.

Sandford are the new leaders after picking up 10 points before rain stopped play in thier game against Chudleigh.

There isn’t a lot in it though as Sandford’s lead is only a point.

SANDFORD skipper Richard Foan intends to go on and win the A Division title after creeping ahead into pole position ahead of Hatherleigh.

On a day when wet weather dominated the scorecards, leaders Hatherleigh were eight-wicket losers to Budleigh Salterton in the only game to finish in the A Division.

Sandford’s game against Chudleigh failed to finish, but Foan’s  men picked up enough bonus points to get ahead of Hatherleigh for the first time this season.

There’s not a lot in it – the lead is only  a point – and Foan knows with five games to play the situation could change again. Three rounds ago Hatherleigh were 30 points clear at the top…

“It has been a very good couple of weeks for us and now it is up to us to stay at the top,” said Foan.

“We did really well to keep Chudleigh to 226 for nine.

“Any time you keep a team to under 250 at Sandford it is a job well done.

“Brian Leach bowled very well and showed great control, taking three wickets.

“Catching Hatherleigh has shown us points can be made up very quickly by a couple of bad performances, so we have to keep playing well and winning games.”

Grant Stone (75) and Mark Heather (29) out on 71 for Chudleigh’s second wicket before Leach (3-25) split them up.

Chudleigh slowed from 140 for three to 143 for six mid-innings and were glad of Will Heather  (26) and Rob Clarke (31no) for getting them going again with a partnership worth 56.

There was no play after tea.

Plymstock didn’t bowl a ball against Lewdown – bad news in their fight to stay up – and Plympton were rained off against Brixham.